MPs discuss implementation of state budget for 2017 and first quarter of 2018

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.

The meeting stressed that the measures, taken to liberalize and improve the currency policy and foreign trade activity in the country, serve to attract foreign investments in the country’s economy, increase export potential, establish production on the basis of modern technologies, as well as develop small businesses and private entrepreneurship. As a result, in 2017, gross domestic product increased by 5.3%, industrial production - 7%, agriculture, forestry and fish farming of which 2.0% were households, 8.9% - services and construction - 5.6%.

At the same time, by ensuring a stable income and efficient use of budget funds, the State Budget was executed with a surplus of 337.3 billion soums or 0.1% of GDP.

MPs said 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 for the 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 President of Uzbekistan from 7 June 2017, aimed at expanding the powers of state authorities in the localities and increasing their responsibility for the formation of local budget revenues, last year the revenue part of local budgets was fulfilled with 4.9% surplus relative to the forecast.

It was emphasized that during the reporting period the social orientation of the state budget expenditures was ensured, the government paid the main attention to development and implementation of comprehensive measures to ensure the efficiency of budget expenditures, improve 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 the implementation of the State budget and the budgets of state target funds within the approved parameters.

It should be noted that the share of social expenditures in the total expenditures of the State Budget was 55.2%. It was emphasized that out of the total volume of social expenditures, 58.7% was spent on the maintenance and development of the education system, 26.9% on health, which shows the special attention paid in our country to the growth of human capital and the protection of public health.

Along with this, during consideration of the report on execution of the State Budget of the Republic of Uzbekistan and the budgets of state trust funds for the first quarter of 2018, the deputies analyzed the progress in the formation of the revenues of the State Budget and the use of budgetary funds.

The report is fully supported by the members of the parliament, attention is drawn to the need to study the real situation on the ground by deputies and senators and to carry 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.

Deputies put forward a proposal on the need to send funds to 874.0 billion soums, which came in addition to local budget revenues in the first quarter of this year, to resolve precisely these issues.

It was stated that in this direction, in order to implement the State Program "Year of support of active entrepreneurship, innovative ideas and technologies," significant financial resources are also provided for implementation of activities aimed at the 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 stressed the importance of paying special attention to securing the further effective use of budgetary funds, full use of the resource potential, available opportunities and reserves of the regions to increase the incomes of local budgets.

During the discussions, the deputies outlined specific tasks to improve the executive discipline of officials of local government bodies, interact with relevant Kengashs of People’s Deputies in the implementation of parliamentary control over the timely and high-quality 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 approving the report on the execution of the State Budget of the Republic of Uzbekistan and the budgets of state trust funds for 2017 and the first quarter of 2018.

Deputies also discussed other issues related to the powers of the Legislative Chamber of the Oliy Majlis.