Plan about Uzbekistan Natural resources. Population, labor and employment

About Uzbekistan. Macroeconomics.

In 2004, the sustainable economic growth was ensured in Uzbekistan. Macroeconomic and financial stability strengthened. The balance in the economy and in its individual sectors improved. For the first time in the whole period of conducting reforms, Gross domestic product (GDP) increased by 7.7%, industrial production - by 9.4%, including production of foodstuffs - by 13.4%.

Investment activity has increased. In 2004, the volume of capital investments increased by 5.2%. Funds of enterprises became a significant source (2/5) of capital investments. About 130 big industrial and infrastructure objects were built and launched in the account of those and other attracted investments. Double increase in inflow of business capital from abroad testified on growth of investment attractiveness of the country.

The role of small businesses and private sector has increased as well. In 2004, number of small enterprises increased by 14%, and its share in GDP grew up to 35.6%). More than 425 thousand jobs were created through achieved development of private entrepreneurship. In agrarian sector, the process of turning unprofitable shirkats into farms has continued.

Favorable macroeconomic conditions that took shape in 2004, and were expressed in terms of growth of GDP along with decline of inflation level (down to 3.7%>), as well as continued structural reforms in the national

economy, and improvement of addressed social protection, ensured 15% increase in monetary income of population in real terms.

About Uzbekistan. Industry.

In 2004, the key sector of material production, industry, accounted for 17.1%) of GDP, while agriculture accounting for 26.8%), construction - 4.5%), and services - 37.6%) (the remaining 14% were provided by net taxes).

The fuel-energy complex plays the leading role in the national industry - output of natural gas, oil, gas condensate, and coal - serve as basis for production of electric power, heat energy and liquid fuel. Their volumes (except for hard fuel) not only meet the domestic demand, but also form significant export resources.

The second leading sector is light industry, which is specialized on reproduction of raw cotton, cocoons of mulberry silkworms, wool, raw leather, as well as on production of cotton wool, yarn, fabrics, textiles and textile products, particularly, cloths and footwear.

Non-ferrous metallurgy, represented by output, enrichment and smelting of copper, zinc, gold, silver, wolfram, molybdenum, and several other strategically important metals, has primary export importance.

Machine-building sector of Uzbekistan produces such technically complicated products as passenger aircrafts, passenger cars, trucks, buses, transformers, tractors, cotton-harvesting machines, as well as other types of agricultural machinery and home appliances. During recent years, the volume and nomenclature of domestic production of mini-technologies that are necessary for organizing works at small enterprises, manufacturing shops, and handcraft shops, have increased.

Chemical industry, mainly oriented in meeting needs of giant agrarian sector, is specialized in production of nitrogen, phosphorus fertilizers and means of protection of plants. During recent years, on the local base of resources of domestic raw materials, production of chemical fibers, rubber, soda, and cotton-cellulose has been growing along with other products that are demanded in economy and everyday life.