Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- In 2021, government purchases were made in Uzbekistan for a total of 147.4 trillion soums, which is 20.1% of GDP. 19% of their total volume (in the amount of about 28 trillion soums) were made through electronic trading. Thanks to the transition to competitive procurement procedures, savings in the amount of 5.8 trillion soums have been achieved.

With this in mind, one of the topical issues today is the systematic continuation of reforms and the further development of the system.

By Resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Uzbekistan "On approval of the Regulations on the procedure for organizing and conducting public procurement procedures", the Ministry of Finance was instructed to develop a draft strategy for further development and improvement of the public procurement sector together with interested ministries and departments and with the involvement of international financial institutions. As part of this task, the Ministry prepared a draft Strategy for the Development of the Public Procurement System in cooperation with the relevant departments and with the participation of domestic and foreign experts.

On 28 October 2022, an international round table was held in Tashkent to discuss this project (in a hybrid format via the Zoom platform), as well as the presentation of the Central Public Procurement Information Portal, developed jointly with the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, and an electronic module for handling complaints, created with the support of the World Bank. The event was organized by the Ministry of Finance with the assistance of the World Bank and the UK Department for International Development (UKAid).

It was attended by officials of ministries and departments, state enterprises, business entities, as well as local and foreign experts. 

The delegates expressed their views on the issues under consideration for the development of the sphere during the round table itself, as well as by filling out online questionnaires using a QR code.