Uzbekistan, Tashkent, Aug. 16 / Trend D.Azizov /
Investments in the Uzbek economy grew by 4.8 percent to 7.099 trillion soum in the first half of 2010 compared to the same period in 2009, the Uzbek State Investment Committee reported.
According to the report, 72 percent (5.109 trillion soum) of the capital expenditures were made in the construction, reconstruction and technical refurbishment of production companies in January-June this year, compared to 71.1 percent during the same period in 2009.
The transport and communications sector received 36.3 percent of all of the capital investments (2.578 billion soum), the energy sector - 8.3 percent (585.5 billion soum), the industry sector - 4.6 percent (326.5 billion soum), the construction and building materials production sector - 3.1 percent (220.4 billion soum), the exploration sector - three percent (215 billion soum), the mechanical engineering sector - 2.9 percent (208.5 billion soum), the light industry sector - 2.4 percent (167.8 billion soum), and the chemical and petrochemical industry sector - 0.8 percent (56.6 billion soum).
Most capital expenditures were made by enterprises and the public - 44.8 percent compared to 49 percent last year. Roughly 7.3 percent were financed by bank loans and other lending, while 4.8 percent were extra-budgetary funds and six percent were provided by the state budget.
Meanwhile, most foreign investments and loans (74.6 percent) were made in the transport and communications sector, eight percent in the fuel and energy complex, 3.6 percent in light industry and geological survey sector, 1.8 percent in the building materials sector, one percent in the engineering sector, 0.7 percent in the health sector, 0.3 percent in the trade and public catering sector, and 6.4 percent in other industries.
The government plans to increase capital investment by 22.1 percent this year.
The official exchange rate is 1,610.00 soum to $1 today.