Uzbekistan, Tashkent, Jan. 18 / Trend, D. Azizov /
The Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of Uzbekistan grew by 8.2% in 2012 compared to 2011, the president of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov said in his report at a cabinet meeting held on Friday to review last year's final statistics.
The volume of industrial production increased by 7.7%, agriculture, by 7%, construction, by 11.5%, retail trade, by13.9% and services by 14.3%.
Uzbekistan recorded a Government Budget surplus equal to 0.4% of the country's Gross Domestic Product. Inflation did not exceed the forecasted figure and amounted to 7%, the head of state said.
Last year, the country's economy attracted investment worth $11.7 billion, or 14% more than in 2011. Meanwhile, more than 22% of all investments, or more than $2.5 billion accounted for foreign investment, of which nearly 79% were foreign direct investments.
The share of small business in Uzbekistan's GDP in 2012 reached 54.6% compared to last year's 54%.
As part of a comprehensive program aimed at creating jobs and increasing employment, 973,500 new jobs were created in 2012, of which 647,100 (66.5%) are in rural areas.
As previously reported, Uzbekistan's GDP in 2011 grew by 8.3% compared to 2010. Industrial output rose by 6.3%, the volume of agricultural production increased by 6.6%, paid services, by 16.1%. The volume of exploited capital expenditures increased by 11.2%. Government budget surplus equaled 0.4% of GDP.
In 2012, the government projected 8.2% GDP growth, 8.6% growth in industrial production, 5.8% growth in agricultural production. It was projected to increase total capital investment by 9.3% and keep inflation within 7 to 9%.