Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- On 18 January 2023, at a meeting of the Senate Committee on International Relations, Foreign Economic Relations, Foreign Investments and Tourism, the results of the Committee’s activities in 2022, as well as its main directions and tasks for 2023, were discussed.

The event was attended by senators, members of the expert council under the Committee, representatives of a number of relevant ministries and departments, as well as journalists.

It was emphasized that the reporting period has become one of the most active in terms of legislative and control and analytical activities, as well as the effective promotion of parliamentary diplomacy.

In particular, it was noted that in 2022, the Committee considered and submitted 9 laws to the plenary sessions of the Senate, ratified a number of important international agreements and treaties. The senators emphasized the special significance of the ratification of the agreement on the delimitation of certain sections of the state border with Kyrgyzstan and the agreement on the Andijan (Kempirabad) reservoir, which became the most important step towards the final settlement of issues related to the state border and the joint use of transboundary water resources.

The ratification of the International Labor Organization Convention No. 167 on safety and health in construction contributed to the improvement of national legislation and the effective implementation of international standards on safety and health in the construction industry.

The ratification of the Izmir Treaty created the legal basis for the full membership of the country in the Economic Cooperation Organization.

In 2022, the Committee held 10 control and analytical activities. The main emphasis in them was placed on the development of trade and economic cooperation, the elimination of existing barriers and obstacles to attracting foreign investment and expanding exports. Thus, on a systematic basis, the Committee listened to the information of the Ministry of Investments and Foreign Trade on the status of the implementation of the "road maps" signed following the results of high-level visits.

Reports were heard from the heads of all diplomatic missions of the Republic of Uzbekistan on the work carried out to develop bilateral cooperation, on the effectiveness of work in the regions and sectors of the economy assigned to them.

Among the new approaches of the Committee for Interaction with the Regions, Promotion of Their Social and Economic Development, field studies of the most pressing problems of concern to business entities were organized. For example, following the results of these studies, the Committee critically listened to the information of the Ministry of Transport on the development of international, interregional transport corridors, tourism infrastructure and attraction of investments in the Fergana region.

Based on the numerous appeals of citizens received by the Committee, a report was heard on the activities of the Agency for External Labor Migration under the Ministry of Employment and Labor Relations.

The Committee, in accordance with the Concept of Parliamentary Diplomacy, carried out systematic work to promote international initiatives of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan. More than 30 meetings of groups for cooperation with foreign countries were held. Roadmaps were adopted for the further development of cooperation with international inter-parliamentary organizations - the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly (OSCE PA), the Inter-Parliamentary Assembly of the CIS Member States (IPA CIS).

Work continued with citizens’ communications. In 2022, members of the Committee considered about 3 thousand applications, organized 3,137 visiting and personal receptions of citizens. A significant number of appeals were resolved positively.

In accordance with the priorities for the development of the regions of the republic, the Committee continued consistent interaction with local Kengashes of people’s deputies. Based on their proposals, discussions were organized on a number of topical issues that concern the population of the country.