Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- In July 2024, the Institute of Macroeconomic and Regional Studies (IMRS) in collaboration with the Agency for Mahalla and Entrepreneurship Development conducted an online survey of entrepreneurs across various sectors.

The primary goal of the survey was to assess the effectiveness of measures aimed at supporting entrepreneurship and to identify issues encountered in utilizing benefits.

A total of over 11,300 entrepreneurs from all regions of the republic (14 provinces, 204 districts/cities) participated in the survey.

The survey results revealed the following:

1. Awareness of Benefits and Preferences:

- 40.1% of respondents reported no issues or difficulties in obtaining information about government-provided benefits and preferences for entrepreneurs, while 25.7% found the information scattered and difficult to comprehend. The issue of awareness is notably more severe in Andijan and Khorezm provinces.

2. Inclusion of Entrepreneurial Opinions in Regulatory Decisions:

- Entrepreneurs believe that incorporating their opinions in the creation of significant regulations would enhance their effectiveness and relevance (40.5%), increase trust in the government (23.2%), and reduce the frequency of amendments to official documents (18.3%).

3. Awareness of the 18 August 2023 Open Dialogue and Conditions for Entrepreneurs:

- 87.3% of survey participants were aware of the Open Dialogue and the favorable conditions created for entrepreneurs, while 12.7% were not informed. 69.3% of respondents reported a positive shift in their operations due to the favorable conditions, while 7% felt no improvement in their sector. The highest proportion of respondents feeling unchanged were from Navoi (10.3%) and Tashkent (17.9%) provinces.

4. Impact of the Abolition of the Tax Gap System on Business Activities:

   - The survey indicated that two-thirds of entrepreneurs (66.5%) viewed the changes made to the tax system positively. 12.8% felt that the changes had no impact on their activities. Significant positive changes were noted by respondents in Khorezm (79.2%), Andijan (77.0%), and Bukhara (75.8%) provinces, while a lower positive impact was observed in Tashkent province (43.5%).

The study also covered evaluations of the importance of business skills training, the availability of land and property rental in industrial zones, areas needing additional support, and other existing issues.

Overall, the study showed that 74% of entrepreneurs have a positive view of the policies aimed at supporting them (up from 64% in 2023), with 4.6% giving negative assessments.