CRPT TURON clarifies regarding the publication https://t.me/the_bakiroo/6707. In its current form, it not only discredits the company but is also essentially incorrect. The facts presented do not correspond to reality.
1) In the joint venture "Digital Holding," 49% belongs to the Agency for Management of State Assets of the Republic of Uzbekistan, with the remaining shares owned by private shareholders. This list can be reviewed in the State Register of the Ministry of Justice, after which you will understand that Usmanov A.B. is not the majority shareholder of the company.
2) The company is not a monopolist but operates on the principle of a public-private partnership. There is an approved model for the functioning of labeling based on a single operator, according to which the operator conducts its activities. Payment for labeling codes is not "shareholders' profit," but payment for a vast range of services related to the issuance of cryptographically protected codes, their storage, storage of information on every movement of each labeled product in the country at every stage of the supply chain, infrastructure maintenance, and so on.
3) Digital labeling is primarily aimed at cleaning up the markets. Although illegal goods are still present in the market, their share is decreasing. This benefits legal manufacturers, who have repeatedly stated that they see value and effects from labeling. Due to the exit of illegal goods from the market, legal players gain the opportunity to increase their market share, revenue, and profit. For the state, labeling is an opportunity to increase budget revenues, flexibly manage stocks, and prevent shortages. In tobacco, the volume of excise tax in 2021 increased by 385 billion soms, a 24.9% increase compared to 2020. By the end of 2022, revenue growth was 3.5%—an increase of 69 billion soms. The number of legal companies in wholesale and retail increased by 29%. In alcohol, by the end of 2022, revenue increased by 39 billion soms, 2.4% more than in 2021. The number of legal companies producing alcoholic and beer products increased by 27%, and importers by 9%. The country is conducting a pilot to abandon paper excise stamps and account for fees based on digital labeling.
For the first time in the Republic of Uzbekistan, it is possible to see how medicines move from manufacturer to consumer, including all markups and distributions through State procurement.
4) Regarding the tobacco industry in the Republic of Uzbekistan, according to the operator's data, despite the growth in consumption of alternative tobacco products, over 4,500 items are registered in the catalog of labeled goods, and more than 16.5 million units have been labeled. Local production growth compared to 2021 was about 2%. Regarding spontaneous market trade, we remind you that on this matter, the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan signed the Law "On Restricting the Distribution and Consumption of Alcoholic and Tobacco Products" on May 25, 2023, which details and stages all measures to limit tobacco use and prohibit market trading. This law comes into effect three months later, on August 25, 2023.
After the launch of beer labeling, about 46.2 million units of legal beer products were withdrawn from circulation. Legal alcohol production grew by 11.9% in the two years after the launch of labeling for this product group.
Additionally, a free mobile application Asl Belgisi has been created for consumers, which allows checking the labeling on products, verifying their legality and quality, and in case of violation – submitting a complaint with one click. More than 600 thousand citizens already use the app. Their number has increased sixfold since the beginning of the year.
Sincerely,
CRPT TURON
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