Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — 

The meeting was attended by senators, officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and other government agencies, members of permanent commissions of local Kengashes of People’s Deputies, as well as representatives of public organizations and the media.

It was noted that as part of Uzbekistan’s ongoing reforms aimed at expanding the role and powers of the parliament in both domestic and foreign policy, the practice of hearing reports from Uzbek ambassadors abroad has been established. This year, reports from around 40 diplomatic missions are scheduled for review.

The session began with an assessment of the work carried out by Uzbekistan’s embassies in Belgium, the United Kingdom, Spain, and Italy between 2023 and 2024. Key areas of focus included the development of bilateral cooperation, investment attraction, export expansion, and promotion of tourism.

Trade turnover between Uzbekistan and Belgium reached US$195.3 million in 2023 and increased to US$212 million in 2024.

Uzbek exports to the UK saw significant growth, rising by 45% in 2024 compared to 2022, reaching US$149 million.

Currently, Uzbekistan is implementing five investment projects in partnership with Spanish companies, with a total value of US$327 million. A joint intergovernmental commission between Uzbekistan and Spain has been established, and its first meeting has already taken place. As part of this initiative, a business forum was organized to promote entrepreneurship and attract foreign investment.

Italian investments in Uzbekistan amounted to US$246 million in 2023, while bilateral trade turnover reached US$502.4 million. Additionally, the number of Italian tourists visiting Uzbekistan increased by 1.5 times over recent years, from 25,000 in 2023 to 39,000 in 2024.

At the same time, the session highlighted shortcomings in the work of these diplomatic missions, including systemic challenges in promoting Uzbekistan’s economic interests abroad.

Senators provided detailed recommendations to the ambassadors and assigned them specific tasks to enhance the effectiveness of their activities.

Following the discussions, the Senate Committee adopted an official resolution.