Last year, the Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCI) carried out extensive work aimed at supporting small businesses and entrepreneurship. CCI conducted regular surveys to assess the business climate and environment, permitting procedures, access to credit facilities and finance.

To improve the quality of information and consulting services to the private sector, CCI in conjunction with Business Forum of Uzbekistan Project has initiated special centers to promote business in 14 regions of the country. They are aimed at providing information and consulting services through electronic terminals and info kiosks connected to the main server through the corporate network. Special one-stop offices help business entities to quickly and at minimal cost get any information, find business partners. Such one-stop centers are planned to open in all regions.

As part of the search for reliable partners for domestic entrepreneurs and foreign direct investment CCI had assisted in organization of 102 visits of foreign delegations to Uzbekistan. These visits have resulted in 44 enterprises with foreign capital, including 17 joint ventures and 27 foreign companies. Also, 204 businesses were assisted in finding and purchasing mini-technologies and equipment totaling $14.5 million.

As part of efforts taken to assist entrepreneurs in enhancing export performance and promote exports of domestic products, CCI organized by 52 cooperation exchanges. During these exchanges 91 domestic enterprises were assisted in the export of products from Uzbekistan for more than $108.1 million.

The chamber has made particular emphasis on development of information and communication sector. In particular, it has developed an electronic cashless payment system SMS-To'lov, as well as electronic database, which includes 9200 large and small enterprises.

Representatives of the Chamber of Commerce noted that the main tasks in 2012, named the Year of Family, is to create a favorable business environment for the development of family business, implementation of measures to provide greater freedom of entrepreneurship, as well as a mechanism to prevent unlawful interference with small businesses, increase export potential.