Uzbekistan's GDP up 7.5% in Jan-Mar, industrial output up 6%
TASHKENT. April 20 (Interfax) - Uzbekistan's gross domestic product (GDP) increased by 7.5% year-on-year in January-March 2012, the country's Prime Minister Shavkat Mirziyoyev said at a government meeting on Friday.
He said that industrial production increased 6% while agricultural output went up by 6.1%. Total construction operations increased by 6.6%.
The state budget in the first quarter was implemented with a surplus of 0.2% of GDP. Inflation did not exceed forecast parameters, he said.
Total applied investment increased by 4.4% while 127 new production facilities were brought into commission. Production of consumer goods went up by 5.4% while retail turnover increased 11%. Total services grew 12.5%. At the same time, the services sector accounted for 52.1% of GDP in the first quarter compared to 48.5% in the previous year.
The country's State Statistics Committee said that GDP increased last year by 8.6% while inflation came to 7.6%. Production of industrial goods went up by 6.3% while agricultural output increased 6.6%.
The Uzbek government forecasts GDP growth this year at 8.2% while industrial and agricultural production should increase 8.6% and 5.8%, respectively. Inflation should be held within 7%-9%.