A number of resolutions of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan entrusted the Anti-Corruption Agency with the task of establishing control over ensuring openness and transparency in the process of using credit funds allocated by international financial institutions in the implementation of investment projects.

In particular, the Agency monitors the provision of openness and transparency in the implementation of 15 big and important investment projects.

In particular, the public posting of information on all stages of work planned to be implemented within the framework of projects by the responsible government agencies and organizations on official websites and other information resources is ensured.

To date, separate sections or pages have been created on the official websites of the ministries and departments responsible for the following projects, on which information on the work performed is constantly updated.

The Resolution of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan No.RP-159 of March 10, 2022, provides for the construction and repair work on the development of drinking water supply and sanitation systems in Samarkand Region, and also the acquisition of machinery and equipment for these purposes, as well as the Resolution No.RP-342 of August 2, 2022, provides for the construction and repair work on the development of drinking water supply and sanitation systems in Namangan and Surkhandarya regions, and also the acquisition of machinery and equipment for these purposes.

The official website of Uzsuvtaminot JSC posted information on projects (plan for the development of allocated funds, disbursed funds, planned work by region, information on choosing a consulting company for project management).

The Resolution of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan No.RP-381 of September 27, 2022 provides for the sustainable development of agriculture on the irrigated lands of the Aral Sea region, the purchase of machinery and equipment, the implementation of construction and installation works for the efficient use of water and land resources in the Republic of Karakalpakstan, Bukhara, Surkhandarya and Khorezm regions. In the course of the study, a separate page on the project was created on the official website of the Center for Implementation of Foreign Investment Projects in Water Sector, and information about the project was posted.

The Resolution of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan No.RP-5129 of May 27, 2021 provides for the creation in seven institutions of the country of national reference laboratories that meet international standards, the reconstruction, overhaul and equipping of 475 institutions of the sanitary and epidemiological service, the purchase of 500 thousand tests for coronavirus, the improvement of logistical base of the existing laboratory complexes, as well as the purchase of 1000 special ambulances.

Information about the project was posted on the official website of the Sanitary and Epidemiological Welfare and Public Health Service of Uzbekistan.

At the same time, this December, the Agency when studying the materials on projects published on official websites, in social networks and in the media, revealed that some responsible ministries and departments made mistakes and shortcomings in the publication of information.

For example, based on the Resolution of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan No.RP-54 of December 16, 2021, unsecured loans in the amount of USD 100 million were allocated to the owners of homestead lands. Responsibility for the implementation of this task was assigned to the Council of Farmers, Dekhkan Farms and Owners of Homestead Lands of the Republic of Uzbekistan, as well as to a number of other ministries and departments.

According to the Council of Farmers, Dekhkan Farms and Owners of Homestead Lands of Uzbekistan, as of June 1, 2022, commercial banks allocated 240.4 billion UZS in the form of loans to owners of homestead lands, 38 billion UZS for projects of Tomorka Khizmati LLC, farms, production cooperatives, as well as 71 billion UZS for establishing Tomorka Khizmati clusters.

During the study, it was found that information on the expenditure of funds, the status of the work performed, the documents adopted, tenders and competitions held were not published on the official websites of the responsible ministries and departments.

In accordance with the Resolution of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan No.RP-249 of May 18, 2022, a total of 700 billion UZS and 40 million USD were allocated from various sources of funding for the construction of a total of 2606 kilometers of internal roads with cement concrete pavement.

The Chairman of the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Karakalpakstan, heads of regional administrations and Tashkent city were appointed responsible. On the official websites of the relevant bodies and departments, as well as on their pages in social networks, the necessary information on the expenditure of funds, the status of work, competitions and tenders held was not posted.

The Anti-Corruption Agency sent recommendations and directives to the relevant bodies and departments so they ensure the openness and transparency of allocated and spent funds, as well as ongoing work within the framework of investment projects.

The Agency will continue to monitor the openness and transparency of the targeted use of funds allocated under projects.

The Anti-Corruption Agency