Uzbekistan, Tashkent, July 16 / Trend, D. Azizov /
Uzbekistan's Gross Domestic Product (GDP) increased by 8 percent from January to June 2013 compared to the same period of 2012, Uzbek Prime Minister Shavkat Mirziyayev said at a government meeting today while discussing the results of socio-economic development of the country in the first half of the year.
According to the Prime Minister, industrial production in Uzbekistan increased during the reporting period by 8.2 percent, agricultural production - by 7.3 percent, the volume of construction work - by 16.1 percent.
The state budget was executed with a surplus of 0.1 percent of GDP. The inflation rate has not exceeded the forecast, Prime Minister added.
According to him, the production of consumer goods increased by 14.4 percent, retail trade - by 14.6 percent, production of services - by 12.1 percent in January-June. Thus, the share of services in GDP increased up to 52.4 percent compared to 52.2 percent a year earlier. The localized production volume increased by 36.1 percent.
The volume of investments drawn from all sources of financing increased by 10.2 percent, including foreign investments and loans - by 13.2 percent in Uzbekistan in the first half of the year. Around 1,233 production facilities were put into operation in the country. The implementation of 141 new investment projects worth $6.8 billion was launched. The share of direct investments hit over 80 percent in the structure of drawn foreign investments.
Around 554,400 new jobs were created in Uzbekistan since early 2013. More than 334,400 or 60.3 percent were created in the countryside.
Around 15,800 new small facilities were established.
The real income of the Uzbek population increased by 16.3 percent.
The measures on stimulating the development of export potential of the economic sectors, despite the adverse changes in global market conditions, ensured the growth in export volumes by 11.4 percent and a significant foreign trade surplus.
According to the State Statistics Committee, Uzbekistan's GDP increased by 8.2 percent in 2012 compared to 2011, industrial production increased by 7.7 percent, agricultural production - by 7 percent. The volume of construction work increased by 11.5 percent, retail trade turnover - by 13.9 percent, the volume of paid services - by 14.3 percent. The inflation rate was 7 percent.
The government plans to ensure GDP growth by 8 percent, industrial production - by 8.4 percent, agricultural production - 6 percent, increase in the volume of capital investments - by 9.3 percent in 2013. The inflation is planned to be kept within 7-9 percent.
The official exchange rate is 2.101.48 soums/$1 on July 16.