President dismisses Bukhara governor’s first deputy

Botir Ahmedov, the First Deputy Governor of Bukhara Region for Finance, Economy and Poverty Reduction and Head of the Regional Department of Economy and Finance, has been dismissed from his post for failing to work effectively with businesses to increase tax revenues. The announcement was made today, July 21, during a videoconference meeting chaired by President Shavkat Mirziyoyev to review the country's first-half performance and outline priorities for the remainder of the year.

During the meeting, it was noted that existing opportunities to increase tax revenues are still not being fully utilized. Since the beginning of the year, tax revenues have risen by 27 percent, exceeding UZS 130 trillion.

However, only 40 percent of the annual target for additional tax revenue has been achieved, amounting to UZS 12 trillion. The President criticized first deputy regional governors for failing to engage sufficiently with businesses to improve tax collection.

Using Bukhara Region as an example, it was revealed that 162 companies with annual turnover exceeding UZS 100 million had reported losses for three consecutive years and, as a result, had not paid a single soum in corporate income tax.

It was also reported that around 1,500 companies had been claiming value-added tax (VAT) credits without paying VAT themselves. As a result, the First Deputy Governor of Bukhara Region was dismissed from his position.

The meeting also noted that, as of July 1, the authority to collect taxes from 498 major taxpayers had been transferred to regional administrations, leaving no room for excuses. First deputy regional governors and regional tax officials were instructed to work closely with these companies and ensure that taxes are collected in full.