The roundtable was organised within the framework of the joint project ‘Budget System Reform in Uzbekistan’, launched by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Ministry of Finance of the Republic of Uzbekistan (MFA). The public procurement in Uzbekistan plays a major role in socio-economic development through creating significant demand for as well as delivering public goods and services in the economy. It is worth noting that about half of the state budget expenditures are implemented through public procurements.

At the opening of the roundtable, the Deputy Minister of Finance of the Republic of Uzbekistan Mr. Y. Tursunov particularly commented on the implications of the Resolution of the President of Uzbekistan ‘On the optimization of the public procurement system and attracting small businesses to public procurement’. The adoption of this resolution requires the publication of procurement notices in a special portal and the introduction of electronic tendering. In light of huge reforms launched in the area it is difficult to overestimate the technical assistance work being provided by the project.

In order to prepare for these changes in the field of public procurement, a number of aspects should be considered. These include the Concept of the law on public procurement, the current procedures, mechanisms and control systems, the basic methods of procurement (including electronic auctions and tenders), specific areas of concern such as construction, and the matter of imports related to public procurement.

In his opening speech Stefan Liller, Assistant UNDP Resident Representative in Uzbekistan, noted that UNDP has had a solid history of providing support to public finance reforms in Uzbekistan. UNDP, with cooperation from the Government of Uzbekistan, has supported important initiatives aimed at developing the State Budget Code while improving public procurement. Public procurement composes around 10 percent of GDP, confirming that that the state budget provides perhaps the largest demand for goods and services. Due to the fact that the recent government decisions have called for the prioritization of small business in awarding public procurement contracts, state expenditures will have a significant influence on this sector’s development. In this regard during the first stage of the work undertaken in public procurement area within the framework of the ‘Budget System Reform in Uzbekistan’ project, the concept of the law on public procurement was developed. In addition, the team of national consultants carried out the diagnostics of the current legislation and practices used in this sphere.

The roundtable was aimed at presenting the Concept of the law on public procurements and discussing the means of its further improvement. During this roundtable, participants discussed the problems that arise in the field of public procurement, in addition to debating how legislation on public procurement could be improved. It was suggested that these improvements could include the possible application of a law ‘On procurement of goods, services and works for public use’.

Other specific areas that were discussed during the event included electronic trading, and public procurement in capital construction. It should be noted that the comments and feedback compiled during this roundtable will be addressed through the law and normative documents regulating the area.