New customs duty rates will be introduced in Uzbekistan starting from April 1.
In particular, the amount of customs clearance fees for goods will be determined based on the estimated costs associated with the actions carried out by customs authorities. Additionally, the rates of customs fees charged for the clearance of goods under the "export" and "import" customs regimes will be aligned.
Furthermore, customs clearance fees for processing outside of official working hours of customs authorities will be reduced eightfold, while fees for clearance under the processing within and outside the customs territory regimes will be reduced by half. Interestingly, a 20% discount on the fee is provided for preliminary declaration.
A container hub is being built at the port of Aktau.
After its commissioning, the throughput capacity of the Aktau port is expected to increase from the current 140,000 to 240,000 TEU per year, reports "Kazakhstan Railways."
More than 100 units of special equipment have been involved in the hub's construction. The work is being carried out around the clock in two shifts.
In the port of Aktau, a 24-hectare area has been cleared, and more than 313,000 tons of soil have been delivered to the site. Vertical planning work is 65% complete.
Uzbekistan and Afghanistan Extend Contract for the "Hairatan – Mazar-i-Sharif" Railway
The railway administrations of Uzbekistan and Afghanistan have agreed to extend the contract for the operation and maintenance of the "Hairatan – Mazar-i-Sharif" railway, according to Uzbekistan Railways.
The national company did not specify the exact duration of the extended agreement.
Meanwhile, Sogdiana Trans LLC, a subsidiary of Uzbekistan Railways, will remain the operator managing this railway line.
eBay to Start Paying VAT in Uzbekistan
The American marketplace eBay has officially registered with Uzbekistan's tax authorities to pay value-added tax (VAT), the State Tax Committee of the Republic reported.
Previously, Amazon, Apple, Google, Netflix, Zoom, and 58 other foreign internet companies had also registered with the special tax office in Uzbekistan.
In the first nine months of 2024, these internet companies earned 850 billion soums ($65.4 million) in Uzbekistan and paid 102 billion soums ($7.8 million) in taxes.
This is double the amount collected during the same period in 2023.
Qanot Sharq to suspend some flights to Russia
Private Uzbek airline Qanot Sharq (IATA code: HH) has announced the temporary suspension of some flights to Russia.
From January 20 to March 6 there will be no flights to Moscow from Tashkent, Bukhara, Namangan, Samarkand and Fergana. The carrier will also stop flying from Namangan and Samarkand to St. Petersburg.
The airline explained such measures by the need to withdraw two Airbus A320 airplanes, which were used on Russian flights, for maintenance in the form of C-check.
The airliners will go for labor-intensive maintenance one by one, so they will not be able to fully support all Russian destinations.
The carrier uses the rest of its aircraft - two Airbus A321neo and a wet-leased wide-body A330 - on routes to the Middle East and Asia.