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Issue # 4 (February 2012)
Effective Communications and
Socio-Economic Development
The role of information departments at state bodies in Uzbekistan
The press offices of state bodies are designed to play an important role in political communications between the state
and society regarding socio-economic development. A study conducted by the CER has shown that, despite decisions
adopted back in 2006 to form a system of information departments at state bodies, information departments often
remain institutionally weak, and the ministries and agencies themselves remain passive in the field of information.
The establishment of information departments began at specific
ministries and agencies in Uzbekistan back in the second half of
the 1990s. The legal systemic basis for this work came from the
Resolution of the Republic of Uzbekistan Cabinet of Ministers “On
Measures by State and Economic Administrative Bodies to Develop
Ties With the Public” (September 22, 2006). It defined the priority
areas for developing ties with the public and played an important
role in forming a system of information departments at state bodies.
It was followed by the adoption of a whole host of documents
aimed at enhancing the openness of state information.
Despite certain successes, as of today the information departments
of ministries and agencies are not participating actively enough
in the implementation of state information policy. For example,
according to the results of a survey conducted as part of the
“Family Assets Mobilization 2010” study project, only 53 percent
of entrepreneurs surveyed were more or less information about
the programs being implemented in the country.
The success of further socio-economic reforms and the prospects
for sustaining the high rate of economic growth and improving its
quality depend largely on long-term investments by the private
sector. As markets mature, information flows begin to play an
increasing role in the formation of an external milieu for business
entities to function in, and information assumes the features of
an economic good and circulates in the economy as a factor of
production.
The state’s role is to actively participate in the information market
not only as a regulator but also as a source of the information
that the participants in economic relations need in order to adopt
decisions. Above all this applies to providing information on
projects and programs that are being implemented, reforms and
expected policy changes that may affect the interests of specific
companies, industries and sectors or the economy as a whole.
A study of the experience of information departments at 22
ministries, state committees and economic administrative bodies
leads to the following conclusions:
• Models and approaches to the organization of information
departments and to the funding of their activities vary
substantially, which affects the quality of their work and limits
the ability of the state to conduct an integrated information
policy.
• The establishment of information departments, on the whole,
has not resulted in systemic changes in the organization of
work with the outside audience and specific target groups,
e.g. business, journalists and experts. Nor has there been any
Center for Economic Research
5, 1 st blind alley, Usmon Nosir str.
Tashkent 100070, Uzbekistan
Tel: +99871 150-02-02,
281-45-56/57/58/59;
Fax: +99871 281-45-48
www.cer.uz
Awareness of the public at large and of businessmen about
state programs in various sectors
The survey was conducted by the CER as part of the study
“Household Assets Mobilization in Uzbekistan 2010.” The public
had the least information about such state programs as::
• Programs for industrial development,
• Programs for rural infrastructure development,
• Programs for upgrading of utility systems,
• Programs for work-at-home development,
• Programs for banking sector development.
Among respondents who are somewhat aware of state programs,
74 percent did not differentiate their responses at all and only 26
percent were able to give different assessments of state programs
that they knew about.
The Center for Economic Research is jointly supported by the United Nations
Development Programme (UNDP) and the Government of Uzbekistan
The views and opinions expressed in this material do not necessarily reflect the official positions of the
Center for Economic Research or the United Nations Development Programme.
UNDP Country Office in Uzbekistan
4, Taras Shevchenko str.
Tashkent 100029, Uzbekistan
Tel: +99871 120-34-50, 120-61-67;
Fax: +99871 120-34-85
www.undp.uz