First Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Rustam Azimov presented a report of the Cabinet of Ministers on the execution of the state budget in 2013.

It was underlined that Uzbekistan’s economy grew by 8% in 2013, industrial production – 8.8%, agriculture production – 6.8%, and retail trade turnover – 14.8%.

Implementation of the programme on priorities of development of industry for 2011-2015 and sectoral progammes for modernization and re-equipment of enterprises helped to increase production of competitive products with high added value. Currently, these industries produce over 78% of industrial production.

Over 970,000 people were provided jobs in 2013, of which over 60% were created in rural areas. About 480,000 jobs were created due to small businesses, microfirms and individual entrepreneurship.

The real income of population increased by 16% in 2013, average salary of employees of budget organizations, pensions, social allowances, and stipends – 20.8%. About 58.7% of budget expenses were directed to social sector and social support of population. Significant funds were used to education, healthcare, science, culture, sports and mass media. It was said that number of cars per 100 families now makes up 41.4 compared to 20 in 2000.

During the discussion, members of all political parties and MPs Group of Ecological Movement of Uzbekistan presented the views on the report.

MPs from Liberal-Democratic Party of Uzbekistan (UzLiDeP) underlined that role of the small businesses is increasing in Uzbekistan. Over 26,000 new small businesses were created in Uzbekistan in 2013 and the share of small businesses in Uzbekistan’s GDP rose from 31% in 2000 to 55.8% in 2010.

UzLiDeP members underlined that about 23% of industrial products are produced by small businesses. Over 18% of exports also fell to share of small businesses.

People’s Democratic Party of Uzbekistan underlined that the income of population rose in 2013. The party raised its concerns over illegal and untargeted use of budget resources. The party called to improve responsibility of the state bodies on efficient and targeted use of budget resources and control over execution of the budget parameters.

Faction of Democratic Party of Uzbekistan Milliy Tiklanish said that income part of the state budget was executed fully. At the same time, the party called to ensure execution of tax laws by the businesses and increase income part of local budget in places, improve inter-budget relations. They called to improve business climate for rational use of production and resource potential , high technological production capacities, production of goods from fruits and vegetables, etc.

Social-Democratic Party Adolat said that macroeconomic balance was kept in 2013. The budget allocated 164.7 billion soums to science in 2013. The party noted that the economy should be developed with use of innovations and raise scientific-technical potential of the country.

Members of Ecologic Movement of Uzbekistan said that the state budget also focused on protection of environment and health of population. They noted that Uzbekistan carries out targeted work on improving environment protection and rational use of natural resources.

It said that the state budget issued 122.8 billion soums to environment protection, which rose by 1.47 times compared to 2012. Over 177 billion soums were issued to improve water supply system for population in 2013, which rose 1.61 times compared to 2012.

The parliament approved the report of the execution of the State budget of Uzbekistan for 2013 and adopted corresponding resolution.

In the second half of the day, MPs discussed the execution of the state budget of Uzbekistan in the first quarter of 2014.

It was said that the state budget was executed with surplus as approved by the Uzbek parliament. In the first three months of 2014, Uzbekistan’s GDP increased by 7.5%, agriculture production – 6.2%, industrial output – 8.9% and retail trade turnover – 14.3%.

In the reporting period, over 227,900 new jobs were created in Uzbekistan, of which 137,000 were created in rural areas.

After the discussion, the parliament approved the report of the execution of the State budget of Uzbekistan in the first quarter of 2014 and adopted corresponding resolution.