Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) – Uzbekistan’s GDP in 2019 at current prices made up 511.8 trillion soums and increased by 5.6 percent compared to the previous year.

In terms of sectors, the share of forestry and fisheries in GDP decreased from 28.0 to 25.5 percent, while industry increased from 23.6 to 27.3 percent, and the construction sector - from 5.4 to 5.9 percent.

This was reported at a meeting of the faction of the Liberal Democratic Party of Uzbekistan in the Legislative Chamber of the Oliy Majlis on 26 May 2020.

During the event, faction members heard a report by the Deputy Minister of Finance Dilshod Sultonov on the implementation of the State budget and the budgets of state trust funds in 2019.

It was noted that in 2019 the total income of the population made up 344.7 trillion soums, real growth compared to 2018 made up 106.5 percent. Per capita incomes - 10.3 million soums, nominal growth rates - 119.7 percent, real growth rates - 104.5 percent.

The state budget revenue made up 112.16 trillion soums, exceeding the previous year by 41.8 percent.

As a result of the new tax policy, the volume of tax revenues made up 31.67 trillion soums.

In the reporting period, less than 18.5 trillion soums or 3.6 percent of GDP was used from the planned funds. In particular, 3,885.8 were allocated for the conservation and support of water management, ameliorative improvement of irrigated lands - 756.9, exploration - 587.4 billion soums. As part of measures to improve the reclamation of irrigated land, 437.3 billion soums were allocated for the construction and reconstruction of facilities, the purchase of reclamation equipment from the state budget.

The meeting also heard a report on the implementation of the State budget and the budgets of state trust funds in the first quarter of 2020.

So, for the reporting period, the unemployment rate in Uzbekistan made up 9.4 percent. The highest unemployment rate - 9.8 percent was registered in Samarkand and Surkhandarya regions, 9.7 percent - in Jizzakh, Kashkadarya, Syrdarya and Ferghana regions, the lowest indicator - 7.8 percent in the city of Tashkent. The number of citizens in need of work made up 1 399.7 thousand people.

It was noted that the establishment of the Public Works Fund at the Ministry of Employment and Labor Relations in accordance with the decree of the head of state dated 24 May 2017, aimed at ensuring employment by attracting citizens to paid public works, was an important step in the employment of the population.

Representatives of the people, based on the priorities of the party’s election program, spoke about the importance of ensuring full employment, decent wages, creating new jobs, reducing unemployment, especially in the current pandemic. By supporting family entrepreneurship, home-based labor, small business, and the use of private land, it is possible to ensure employment and increase family incomes.

The question was raised of construction and installation works at the Bulungur reservoirs in Samarkand region, Karaman in Jizzakh, Khangaransoi in Surkhandarya, Dekhkonobod and Guldara Kashkadarya, large reservoirs in the Republic of Karakalpakstan, Syrdarya and Ferghana regions projects of Uzbekistan Temir Yollari JSC with the participation of international financial institutions, a fund for the establishment and development of commercial banks. It was noted that in order to prevent accidents and emergency events, such as on the Sardoba reservoir or during the construction of the metro in the Yunusabad region, these projects should be implemented based on the interests of the people, based on the requirements of international standards and relevant expert conclusions.

After discussions, the deputies approved the reports on the execution of the State budget and the budgets of state trust funds for 2019 and the first quarter of 2020.

The meeting also considered article by article draft laws “On Amendments and Additions to the Law of the Republic of Uzbekistan“ On Auditing Activities ”and“ On the Rights of Persons with Disabilities ”.