Uzbekistan

The country's growth was moderate in 2005 : GDP growth rate was 7.7% in 2004 and 3.5% in 2004. The IMF estimates the growth at 2.5% in 2006.Uzbekistani economy has to face several problems such as unemployment, high inflation (7% in 2005), deep corruption and worrying sanitary situation.
Usbekistan is a former soviet republic and still relies on a centralized and planned model. The State is omnipresent in the country's production and reforms resulting in a real market economy are still to be carried out. Agriculture and natural resources exploitation are the economy's two pillars.

Agriculture is the economy's most important sector, it provides 35% of the GDP and employs 39% of the active population. Uzbekistan is one of the largest cotton producers in the world (being the world's second largest cotton exporter). Cereals, fruits and vegetables are the other main crops. The country also holds abundant natural resources. It is the tenth largest gold producer world-wide and this ore ranks second in terms of export revenue resource (behind cotton). The country is an important gas and oil producer too. The manufacturing sector represents 14% of the GDP.

Uzbekistani foreign trade results largely depend on gold and cotton global prices. These products provide half of the country's foreign currency resources. 32% of the country's exchanges were achieved with countries of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS). Uzbekistan's three largest import countries are Russia, Germany and South Korea. The country mainly imports capital goods, machinery and chemical products.