On May 31, 2018, the regular session of the Legislative Chamber of the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan was held. Deputies considered the results of the execution of the State Budget and Budgets of State Trust Funds for 2017 and the first quarter of 2018, submitted by the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Uzbekistan.
The submitted reports were preliminary considered at the meetings of the Committee on Budget and Economic Reforms, factions of political parties and deputy group from the Ecological Movement of Uzbekistan.
At the meeting it was noted that implementation of the State Budget of the Republic of Uzbekistan and budgets of state trust funds in the first quarter of this year within the framework of implementation of tasks defined in the Action Strategy on five priority areas of development of the Republic of Uzbekistan in 2017-2021, state development programs, socio-economic reforms conducted in the country ensured stable growth rates of the economy and macroeconomic stability.
At the meeting it was emphasized that measures taken on liberalization and improvement of the currency policy and foreign trade activity in the country serve to attracting foreign investments in the country’s economy, increase export potential, establishment of production on the basis of modern technologies, as well as development of small business and private entrepreneurship, as a result of which, in 2017, gross domestic product increased by 5.3 percent, industrial production – 7.0 percent, agriculture, forestry and fish farming of – 2.0 percent, services – 8.9 percent, and construction – 5.6 percent.
At the same time, by ensuring a stable income receipt and effective use of budget funds, the State Budget was executed with a surplus of 337.3 billion sums, or 0.1 percent to GDP.
Deputies noted that a number of laws of the Republic of Uzbekistan, decrees and resolutions of the President of the country, state programs on improving the legal foundations of creation and further liberalization of the economy on an entirely new basis have been adopted.
As a result of the execution of decrees and decisions of the Head of the state of June 7, 2017 aimed at expanding the powers of state authorities at places and increasing their responsibility for formation of local budget revenues, last year the revenue part of local budgets was fulfilled by 104.9 percent on the forecast.
It was emphasized that during the reporting period the social orientation of the State budget expenditures was ensured, the government paid main attention to development and implementation of comprehensive measures on ensuring the efficiency of budget expenditures, improving the quality of social services, full and timely financing of expenditures on priority payments, as well as further improvement of intergovernmental relations, which is the main factor in implementation of the State budget and budgets of state target funds within the approved parameters.
It should be noted that the share of social expenditures in total expenditures of the State Budget amounted 55.2 percent. It was emphasized that out of the total volume of social expenditures, 58.7 percent was spent on maintenance and development of the education system, 26.9 percent on healthcare, which shows the special attention paid in the country to the growth of human capital and ensuring protection of public health.
Along with this, during consideration of the report on the execution of the State Budget of the Republic of Uzbekistan and budgets of state trust funds for the first quarter of 2018, the deputies analyzed the progress of formation of revenues of the State Budget and the use of budgetary funds.
The report was fully supported by members of the parliament, attention was drawn to the need for studying the real situation at places by deputies and senators and carrying out monitoring and analytical activities in this regard, taking into account in these processes the availability of pending issues on targeted and effective use of the State budget, development of social infrastructure of the regions. Proceeding from this, deputies forwarded a proposal on the need for sending funds at the amount of 874.0 billion sums, received in addition to local budget revenues in the first quarter of this year, resolving these issues.
It was stated that in this direction, in order to implement the State Program “Year of supporting active entrepreneurship, innovative ideas and technologies”, significant financial resources are also provided for implementation of activities aimed at development and modernization of road, transport, engineering, communication and social infrastructure. It is necessary to ensure their effectiveness and efficiency.
Along with the foregoing, the deputies emphasized the importance of paying special attention to ensuring further effective use of budgetary funds, full use of the resource potential, available opportunities and reserves of the regions on increasing the incomes of local budgets.
During the discussions, the deputies outlined specific tasks on improvement of the executive discipline of officials of local government bodies, interaction with relevant Kengashes of people’s deputies in implementation of parliamentary control over the timely and qualitative execution of the State budget and budgets of state trust funds for subsequent reporting periods.
Following the meeting, the Legislative Chamber of the Oliy Majlis adopted a resolution on approving the report on the execution of the State Budget of the Republic of Uzbekistan and Budgets of State Trust Funds for 2017 and the first quarter of 2018.
Deputies also discussed other issues related to powers of the Legislative Chamber of the Oliy Majlis.