BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 13. Uzbekistan has
proposed tax breaks, grants of up to 100 million soums (about
$8,414) and preferential loans of up to 300 million soums (around
$25,242) to help households modernize greenhouses and adopt cleaner
energy technologies, as part of a broader plan to develop
environmentally friendly greenhouse farming.


This was announced by the press service of the Uzbek President
following President Shavkat Mirziyoyev’s review of a report
outlining the adoption of environmentally friendly technologies in
greenhouse farming and measures to mitigate its environmental
impact.


Under the proposed measures, household greenhouse operators
would receive a 50% reduction in land and property taxes through
2030, an exemption from turnover tax, and compensation for half of
the electricity costs incurred by energy-saving systems.


Furthermore, the loans of up to 150 million soums (approx.
$12,621) would support the modernization of existing
facilities.


Moreover, the government plans to establish environmentally
friendly greenhouses for families in need across 50 mahallas, or
local communities, specializing in greenhouse farming.


The presentation addressed the collection, treatment and reuse
of contaminated drainage and filtration water generated by
greenhouse operations. Authorities proposed establishing a
specialized operator and developing the necessary infrastructure in
the Akhangaran district.







The government is also seeking to expand modern greenhouse
farming in regions with favorable climatic conditions. A total of
940 hectares has been allocated for the Surkhan-Agro free economic
zone in the Sherabad district, where a master plan has been
developed. The zone is expected to host greenhouses and
agricultural logistics facilities, including the relocation of
greenhouse operations currently held on banks' balance sheets.


Investors in the zone have been granted a zero land-rent rate
for five years and three-year benefits on wastewater and
groundwater-use charges. The government also proposed offering land
plots at auction with starting prices set at 10% of their standard
assessed value. For projects worth more than $10 million and
businesses relocating greenhouses from Tashkent city and region,
the proposed starting price would be reduced to 1%.


Additional proposals include five-year exemptions from land,
property and profit taxes for zone participants, as well as
customs-duty exemptions for imported greenhouse equipment.


Plans call for developing greenhouses and agricultural logistics
facilities across 400 hectares, with completed projects
subsequently offered to investors. Authorities have been tasked
with allocating 220 billion soums (about $18.5 million) for
infrastructure and 200 billion soums (around $16.8 million) to
finance projects, while attracting $100 million in investment to
the zone in 2027.


In addition, the bodies will prepare a digital map showing the
locations of greenhouses, as well as the sources and volumes of
energy supplied to them. Further measures will be developed to
expand domestic and international markets for greenhouse
produce.