Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- On 6 November, in the Legislative Chamber of the Oliy Majlis, together with the Committee for Innovative Development, Information Policy and Information Technologies and the Ministry for the Development of Information Technologies and Communications, a round table was organized on the topic “The role of the postal sector in the digital economy".

The event was held in the format of video conference, high-ranking officials and employees of the Ministry for the Development of Information Technologies and Communications of the Republic of Uzbekistan, JSC "Uzbekiston Pochtasi" and journalists took part in it.

On 5 October, the President of Uzbekistan held a video conference on the reform of the national postal system. The head of our state has set important tasks and tasks for the industry specialists to develop and ensure its sustainability. In addition, the agenda included issues of improving legislation in the field of postal services.

One of the important conditions for the further deepening of political, economic and social reforms and the development of civil society in our country at the initiative of our President is the digitization of these areas. This, in turn, requires the widespread adoption of modern digital technologies in the postal sector.

At the round table, information from the Ministry for the Development of Information Technologies and Communications was heard on the implementation of systemic reforms in the field of postal services, ensuring the unconditional fulfillment of the obligations of the Republic of Uzbekistan arising from the acts of the Universal Postal Union.

It was noted that today there is a strong competitive environment in the postal market. Postal and courier services are provided by 575 local private companies and large international companies.

According to statistics, in 2019 these enterprises invested 260.0 billion soums in postal and courier services. During the event, shortcomings and problems in the system were also noted.

In particular, it was noted that the system of Uzbekiston Pochtasi has more than 2000 branches covering the entire territory of the country, employing 7000 people, but over the years the role of the postal service has decreased due to the neglect of the industry.

In particular, 1,300 post offices have been closed over the past fifteen years. Last year, only 10 percent of the 6,000 tons of foreign mail and 30 percent of courier services were in national mail.

Participants also focused on improving our national and international legislation that will serve the future of the postal sector. In particular, the deputies noted that the Republic of Uzbekistan has joined major international agreements in the field of postal services and in practice is applying their norms. Uzbekistan joined the Bucharest Agreement on Postal Payment Services in 2007 and ratified the Fifth, Sixth, Seventh, Eighth, and in 2018 Ninth additional protocols to the Charter of the Universal Postal Union.

In addition, Uzbekistan is steadily strengthening bilateral interstate cooperation in this area. Relevant cooperation agreements in the field of telecommunications and postal services include Poland, Azerbaijan, Moldova, Kazakhstan, Belarus, Iran, Pakistan and the People’s Republic of China.

After a lively discussion, the participants agreed to work closely with the parliamentary corps to develop legal solutions aimed at the widespread introduction of innovative technologies in the postal sector, the implementation of the most important areas of modernization, and the elimination of existing shortcomings that hinder the development of the industry.