Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — The abolition of excise taxes on mobile services and the reduction of import duties on network equipment will enable Uzbekistan to increase its GDP by 1.3% by 2029. This was stated by GSMA CEO Vivek Badrinath during the M360 Eurasia international forum held in Tashkent.

“In today’s world, policies and regulations lay the foundation of trust — a key factor in closing the digital divide, unlocking the potential of 5G and artificial intelligence, and driving economic growth,” Badrinath emphasized.

He paid special attention to the changes in tax policy aimed at developing Uzbekistan’s mobile industry.

“The removal of excise taxes on mobile services and the reduction of import duties on network equipment will increase the number of connections by 3.3 million, raise mobile broadband penetration by more than 8%, and, most importantly, boost the country’s GDP by 1.3% by 2029. This is clearly a win-win situation for all market participants and the government,” the GSMA CEO stated.

Additionally, he highlighted the importance of creating conditions for the large-scale deployment of 5G technologies: “For a full 5G rollout, operators need 100-megahertz channels in the 3.5 GHz band, as well as preparation for future use of the 6 GHz band. Only with such conditions can sustainable network development and new digital services be expected.”

Vivek Badrinath stressed that establishing a stable and transparent regulatory environment is key to the success of Uzbekistan’s digital transformation and the strengthening of its economic potential in the coming years.