Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- At an expanded meeting of the Senate Committee of the Oliy Majlis on international relations, foreign economic relations, foreign investment and tourism, information was heard from the Ministry of Investments and Foreign Trade on the implementation of the trade, economic and investment part of the Road Map, signed based on the results of visits to Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan.

The meeting was attended by members of the Senate, deputies of local Kengashes, heads of interested ministries and departments, state companies, business associations, employees of the embassies of Uzbekistan in the states of Central Asia, and representatives of local government authorities.

During the meeting, it was noted that the Roadmap for the development of cooperation with the Kyrgyz Republic provided for the implementation of 42 projects totaling US$355.2 million.

At the same time, 11 projects worth USUS$103.0 million are currently not being implemented. In addition, 8 projects with a total value of US$14.0 million are lagging behind.

The Roadmap for the Republic of Tajikistan envisages the implementation of 38 investment projects totaling US$114.1 million. Of which, currently 1 project of the Fergana regional khokimiyat for US$12 million is not being implemented. At the same time, lags are observed in 15 projects totaling US$58 million.

The roadmap for cooperation with Turkmenistan stipulates the implementation of 10 trade and economic agreements and projects totaling US$428.4 million, of which 1 project of Uzavtosanoat is behind the implementation of US$110.7 million.

The Roadmap for the development of cooperation with the Republic of Kazakhstan provides for the implementation of 34 investment projects totaling US$3.4 billion. Currently, 2 investment projects implemented by the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Karakalpakstan in the amount of US$5 million are significantly behind the implementation deadlines.

The senators noted that along with the specific problems of each project, systemic barriers remain that impede the timely and complete implementation of the Roadmaps. In particular, the study showed the lack of a systematic approach to the process of forming the Roadmaps. It was noted that the hasty preparation of investment projects in a short time before high-level visits makes them unpromising in the future.

The senators also pointed to the continuing high level of bureaucracy, which is expressed, among other things, in inadequate provision of phased and timely development of project documentation, which leads to a delay in opening funding, disbursing funds and, as a result, timely commissioning of production capacities.

The ministries and departments that have done insufficient work to replace unpromising projects with equivalent alternative projects have been criticized.

Separately, the need to ensure the proper level of control by local senators and deputies of local Kengashes, regular hearing at sessions of the Kengashes of people’s deputies of reports of deputy khokims on investment issues is indicated.

As a result of the meeting, the decision of the Senate Committee was adopted, containing specific measures to eliminate the existing shortcomings.