Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- One of the important tasks of the government in the area of creation favorable conditions for business development in Uzbekistan is to improve access by business entities to necessary services and simplify procedures for obtaining various permits. With a growing share of small and private enterprises in the economy there is a growing demand for new interactive services and their effective provision in line to support entrepreneurs’ activity. According to international experience, one of the most effective forms of delivery of services is their provision at one place and supplementing business with comprehensive and accurate information on various issues of doing business.

The Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Uzbekistan in cooperation with Khokimiyat of Fergana region, UN Development Program in Uzbekistan and other partners has taken initiative to establish Business Facilitation Center in Ferghana city, to provide services to business entities based on “one-stop-shop” principle.

Official opening ceremony of Business Facilitation Center (BFC) will be conducted on 17 March 2012. The ceremony will be attended by representatives of the Khokimiyat of Fergana region, Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Uzbekistan, various government and non-government organizations, banks, insurance, valuation and leasing companies and private sector.

BFC is a place where entrepreneurs and small businesses will be able to get a set of interrelated services of government agencies and commercial organizations, including assistance in obtaining various permits and certificates, financial services, guidance on procurement of machinery and equipment from abroad and many others.

During opening ceremony participants conducted a small tour at BFC, where they got familiarized with a range of interactive services delivered by BFC. The participants were able to get familiar with the functions of info-kiosks at BFC which contains systematized information for entrepreneurs on key issues of doing business. Also there was a presentation on BFC services and mechanisms of BFC operations, its interaction with state and commercial organizations. Participants were informed about opportunities for attraction of investments, purchase of equipment and technologies.

It is expected that as a result of pooling and provision of “one-stop-shop” services through BFC, the number and time of interaction of businesses with various organizations will be considerably reduced, and costs of applying to state and commercial structures will be lowered. Introduction of electronic information support by means of information kiosk at BFC will allow businessmen to receive necessary information on various aspects of business activity in user-friendly and accessible format. Opening of BFC will allow creating additional favorable conditions to further development of small and private entrepreneurs in the region.