Azerbaijan , Baku, Oct. 5 / Trend , G.Dadashova /
Uzbek Permanent Representative to the UN Murad Askarov said the United Nations must take the leading role in promoting sustainable development. Askarov made such a statement at the meeting of the Second Committee of the 66th UN General Assembly on Oct.4.
Addressing the emergence of the global economic and financial crisis, he said his country had taken pre-emptive steps, and despite the downturn's negative effects, Uzbekistan's gross domestic product had grown at an average rate of 8.5 percent in 2010.
The country hoped to maintain the same growth this year, he added, noting that Uzbekistan continued to develop a multisector economy. It had created and expanded its car-manufacturing sector, its gas and oil industry, as well the technological sector, Askarov said.
The Uzbek government forecasts that GDP growth will reach 8.3 percent in 2011, industrial production - 9.3 percent, and agricultural products - 5.8 percent. Total capital investment is planned to increase by 12.4 percent, retail trade by 15.4 percent, and inflation will remain between 7-9 percent.