Uzbek competition committee reviews taxi fares and secures cut in domestic airfares

Uzbekistan's Competition Committee has begun a review of taxi aggregators' pricing and services after fares rose several times over at peak hours, and has asked the platforms to reset their pricing algorithms and fix driver payouts, according to a post on its official Telegram channel dated 15 October. The same week the committee said domestic airfares would fall by an average of up to 20 per cent from 16 October after it reviewed tariffs with Uzbekistan Airways.

The taxi review

The committee says technical glitches at major aggregators pushed fares up several times over during peak hours, that other aggregators' fares also rose, and that the increases drew public complaints, the post says. The review will examine whether the increases were justified and whether competition law, including its rules on unfair competition, is being followed. The post cites the Law "On Competition" in general terms and no specific article. Kun.uz, which reported the review on 16 October, said the committee named no company.

The committee asked the platforms to review their pricing algorithm settings and prevent sudden, artificial price increases, to fix glitches affecting transfers of earnings to drivers, to unblock drivers who were blocked without grounds, to recalculate and pay all bonuses owed for completed orders, to avoid unfair competition against rivals, and to keep 24-hour technical support running for drivers and passengers, according to the post. If it finds violations of competition law or consumer rights, it says it will carry out an inspection under the established procedure and take the measures set by law. The post gives no deadline or penalty.

Airfares and gas supply

On domestic aviation, the committee said tariffs were reviewed on its proposals together with Uzbekistan Airways JSC, and that ticket prices on domestic routes will fall by an average of up to 20 per cent from 16 October, according to its post of 13 October. The post does not name routes or cite a legal act.

The committee also relayed a statement by President Shavkat Mirziyoyev that the state monopoly on liquefied gas delivery is being ended, with market mechanisms introduced step by step, in a post of 16 October. It gives no decree number or timetable. The president's own account of his meeting with energy investors the same day says market-based mechanisms are being introduced gradually in liquefied gas supply, with uninterrupted supply, safety and service quality remaining priorities.

Billing and cooperation with Brussels

On consumer billing, the committee said in a post of 14 October that it had reviewed charges for household waste removal and drinking water in cases where billing at a registered address did not match actual residence. It said about 22 billion soum of unfounded debt was recalculated in favour of nearly 800,000 citizens. It proposed that billing systems be integrated with migration databases and that subscribers who are abroad for more than a month be recalculated monthly until they return. The post cites only general regulatory documents.

A delegation led by Deputy Chairman Ulugbek Davlatov attended a seminar on EU competition and state aid law and enforcement organised by the European Commission's competition directorate in Brussels on 12 and 13 October, the committee said in a post. Topics included the competitive effects of state aid, anti-monopoly investigation tools, control of economic concentration, obligations imposed on parties to transactions and cooperation among national competition authorities. The delegation also discussed restrictions on imports of genuine products and the relationship between trademark rights and competition law, continuing online consultations on 30 September about a case the committee is reviewing. Davlatov met Maria Jaspers, the directorate's Director for Policy and Strategy, and signing a memorandum of understanding was considered, though the post does not say one was signed. The committee said the findings and expert recommendations will be analysed against national legislation and used for proposals to improve its enforcement practice.