Media outlets may be exempt from income tax for 3 years.
In Uzbekistan, it is planned to establish an annual fund of 40 billion soums to support journalists, and starting from 2026, it is proposed to cover housing rental costs for journalists who have received a state award or the "Golden Pen" award.
A draft presidential decree aimed at supporting mass media and the field of journalism in Uzbekistan has been submitted for public discussion.
The document envisages introducing tax and customs benefits for media outlets, establishing a national fund to support media and journalistic activities, financing non-state television channels, and expanding incentive mechanisms for journalists.
Tax and customs benefits for media outlets
According to the draft, it is proposed to exempt mass media from corporate income tax from January 1, 2027, to December 31, 2029.
It also stipulates that no customs duties will be levied on the import of printing equipment, modern photo, radio, and television equipment, as well as paper products, that are not produced in Uzbekistan and are included in an approved list.
It is also proposed to exempt funds received into the accounts of periodicals founded by state bodies and organizations from all types of taxes.
Furthermore, it is planned to grant state bodies and organizations the right to create electronic versions and mobile applications of the periodical print publications they have founded. These activities may be financed from the state budget, extra-budgetary funds, and other legal sources.
A fund receiving annual subsidies of 40 billion UZS will be established
The draft envisages the establishment of a national fund to support media and journalistic activities, without the status of a legal entity, under the Uzbekistan Journalists' Union.
It is proposed to allocate an annual subsidy of 40 billion UZS from the state budget as the main source of financing for the fund.
Additionally, the fund's resources may be formed from voluntary contributions by members of the Journalists' Union, legal entities, and individuals, grants and loans from international financial institutions and foreign donors, income from deposits, and other legal sources.
According to the draft, the fund's resources will be directed towards financing the activities of the Journalists' Union and its regional branches, strengthening the material and technical base, repairing and maintaining buildings, and paying salaries, bonuses, and rewards to employees.
Furthermore, the "Golden Pen" national award, programs to incentivize active journalists, and the development of official websites and social media pages of periodical print publications may also be financed from the fund.
Grants and state orders will be provided to non-state TV channels
The draft decree proposes introducing the practice of financial support for non-state television and radio channels from the fund's resources.
It is planned that funds will be allocated through a competition based on recommendations from the Uzbekistan Journalists' Union and the National Media Association, in the form of grants, state orders, and targeted financing.
Support will primarily be directed towards media projects dedicated to social-educational initiatives, national values, education, legal culture, healthy lifestyles, family, youth, and regional development.
It also envisages introducing a system for monitoring, reporting, and evaluating the effectiveness of financed projects.
New incentive mechanisms for journalists and students
The draft also includes a number of measures to incentivize members of the Journalists' Union.
These include:
- awarding the author of the 20 most relevant materials published in the media each quarter an amount equal to 30 times the Basic Calculation Value (BCV) (12.36 million UZS);
- holding a competition for the 100 best analytical materials each year, rewarding the author of each material with 100 BCV (41.2 million UZS);
- covering tuition fees for 50 talented students studying journalism (up to 40 BCV or 16.48 million UZS per student);
- allocating grants of 150 BCV (61.8 million UZS) annually for 12 materials within the framework of the "Journalistic Solutions" program dedicated to studying corruption issues;
- paying life insurance premiums of at least 50 million UZS for 300 effectively working members of the Journalists' Union.
Also, starting from 2026, it is proposed to cover housing rental costs for journalists who are winners of a state award or the "Golden Pen" award. Compensation of up to 10 BCV per month in Tashkent city and up to 5 BCV in the regions and Karakalpakstan may be provided.
New powers of the Journalists' Union
According to the document, it is proposed to grant the Union the right to participate in pre-trial dispute resolution processes involving its members. Furthermore, if state bodies, organizations, or their officials appeal to the court regarding issues related to the activities of journalists or Union members, the organization may participate at any stage of the court proceedings, except for closed court sessions.
Additionally, it is planned to empower the Union to submit proposals for allocating subsidies, grants, and social orders to media outlets through the Public Foundation for Support of Civil Society Institutions under the Oliy Majlis.
The Union's material and technical base
The draft also includes several initiatives to strengthen the Union's material and technical base. Specifically, it is proposed to approve the initiative of the "Business Development Bank" to support the "Friends Club" under the Journalists' Union. The bank may provide annual sponsorship assistance for developing the Union's material and technical base, establishing a modern media studio, and incentivizing employees and members.
It is also proposed that the Tashkent city administration, by December 31, 2026, carry out major repairs and equip the building located at 16 Navoi Street in the Shaykhontohur district with modern equipment to improve the quality of press conferences.
It is also planned to house the Journalists' Union in the building of the National Information Agency of Uzbekistan, located at 32 Matbuotchilar Street in the Mirobod district of Tashkent, on the basis of free use rights.
The Council of Ministers of the Republic of Karakalpakstan, regional administrations, and the Tashkent city administration are recommended to allocate subsidies from August 1, 2026, from additional sources of local budgets, to the Union's regional branches annually up to 3000 times the BCV, i.e., up to 1.24 billion UZS.
Furthermore, it is envisaged to complete the reconstruction project of the "Oqtosh" Creative House, located in the Soyliq village of the Bostanliq district of the Tashkent region, by the end of 2026, and transform the facility into a content production center for media outlets.
The draft also puts forward a proposal to establish a sanatorium, rehabilitation, and health center for members of the Journalists' Union on the territory of the "Oqtosh" Creative House.
Fact-checking and modern journalism education
The draft pays special attention to signing a memorandum of cooperation between the Anti-Corruption Agency and the Journalists' Union, and to the legal protection of journalists working on corruption topics from pressure and threats.
The Ministry of Higher Education, the Content Production Center for Media, and the Journalists' Union are tasked with developing a new curriculum covering artificial intelligence, legal foundations, and modern journalism methods. Its implementation is planned from the 2028/2029 academic year.
The Ministry of Digitalization will be required to assist the Journalists' Union in creating a fact-checking platform designed to detect illegal content and false information generated using artificial intelligence.
Also, the establishment of a "Journalists and Bloggers Club" is proposed for discussing pressing social issues.
