33
companies have qualified for it (Asian Development Bank, 2003). Less than 1% of
secondary trading in listed shares takes place on a formal OTC market “Elsis
Savdo”, which is controlled by the National Bank of Uzbekistan.
Most secondary
trading of listed shares (about 81%) takes place on an unregulated informal
secondary OTC “curb market”
4
. Transaction costs on the RSET are high (3.7%-
5.7%) but have come down due to competition from the curb market.
Significant
decisions taken by RSET are subject to Centre for Coordination of Functioning of
Securities Market oversight. Most securities participants are affiliated with the
banking sector.
Depositary - basic element of securities market infrastructure – was been
established in 1994. It is currently the only registration and depositary system
available in Uzbekistan. Its main functions are to provide share registration, the
dematerialised deposit of shares and transfer of ownership (settlement of
securities) for transactions concluded through the Tashkent Stock Exchange.
Around 30 information
analytical, consulting, rating, evaluating,
and auditing
organisations, more than 650 investment funds, management
and investment
companies, brokerage and dealer’s firms currently comprise other elements of the
market infrastructure in Uzbekistan.