The Ministry of Economy and the State Statistics Committee of Uzbekistan presented a report on the results of socio-economic development of the Republic of Uzbekistan for the first half of 2015.
Thus, share of services in the structure of the gross domestic product (GDP) of Uzbekistan grew up to 52.9% in the first half of 2015.
Over 7,500 objects of services were launched in Uzbekistan in the first half of 2015 within execution of the programme for development of service sector for 2012-2016.
This helped to growth of rendered services by 13.1% and increase of share of services in GDP from 52.7% in January-June 2014 to 52.9% in the first six months of 2015.
Within the realization of measures on optimization of technological processes and use of raw materials, decrease of losses at production, improve competitiveness of products, large enterprises of Uzbekistan replaced 819 units of old equipment to new ones for US$43.3 million.
In the result, the enterprises were able to decrease prime cost of production by 9.6% in average and increase productivity of labour in industry by 6.4% and decrease power intensity in GDP by 10.4%.
Within the 608 projects on localization, the goods for 1.6 trillion soums were produced in Uzbekistan in the first half of 2015. Estimated import-replacement effect made up US$640.6 million.
At the same time Uzbekistan launched production of 585 new types of localized products, including spare parts and units for compressor units (centrifugal and reciprocating), engine oils, hydraulic fluids for purposes, mine trolleys VG-1.2, spare parts for excavators and EKG5A and EKG20, body stamped parts for Damas cars, components for household appliances, new types of refrigerators and freezers, ovens, household lamps, industrial energy-saving LED lamps, and other finished products.
Within the realization of measures on expansion of inter-industrial cooperation and localization of products, currently imported, the large industrial enterprises decreased import for US$196.8 million.
In the result of measures, directed at improving the competitiveness and diversification of production, stimulating the creation of new capacity for the production of marketable products in foreign markets allowed to attract 493 companies to export activities in the first half of 2015.
The companies exported 168 new types of products for US$64 million. Among new export products are buses, white cement, copper pipes, painting products, gas ovens, automobile seats, ceramic and travertine tiles, cable-wire products, etc.
Since the beginning of the year as part of measures to strengthen and develop the material and technical base for storage of fruits and vegetables, the country created and modernized 21 cold storage warehouses with the capacity of 14,700 tonnes.
Uzbekistan produced 1.3 million tonnes of potatoes (+9%), 2.6 million tonnes of vegetables (+8.5%), 163,000 tonnes of melons and gourds (+8.1%), 839,200 tonnes of berries and fruits (+7.3%) and 24,300 tonnes of grapes (+9.1%).
Creation and reconstruction of intensive gardens at 21,800 hectares and vineyards at 16,600 hectares, creation of 264 hectares of greenhouses at 501 farms and 399 hectares of greenhouses at personal lads helped to increase production of fruits and vegetables.
Over 2,400 projects on development of animal husbandry with 57,500 heads of cattle and 800 projects on development of poultry with 11.9 million birds, as well as 864 projects on development of fishery and 915 projects on development of bee-keeping were implemented in Uzbekistan in the first six months of 2015.
In the result, number of the cattle reached 11.1 million (+3.1% y-o-y). The country produced 944,000 tonnes of meat (+6.5%), 3.9 million tonnes of milk (+6.8%) and 2.8 billion eggs.
Uzbekistan used financial resources for 497.3 billion soums at objects for construction and reconstruction of automobile roads, which are part of the Uzbek national highway, in January-June 2015.
Republican Road Fund allocated 297.2 billion soums to these objects in the first half of 2015.
Uzbekistan also used US$80.5 million of foreign loans, attracted under the guarantee of the Government, to construct and reconstruct roads in January-June 2015.
Fund for support of exports of small businesses and private entrepreneurship under the National Bank of Uzbekistan for Foreign Economic Activity helped 416 enterprises in export of their products.
In the result, these enterprises exported their products for US$512 million in January-June 2015.
At the same time, 36 businesses received financial aid for 406 million soums and provided help to find foreign buyers and sign export contracts for US$5.6 million.
Through a specialized foreign trade company Uztadbirkoreksport, small businesses and private enterprises exported goods worth US$485 million in January-June 2015.
In addition, the Export Promotion Bureau of products under the agency Uzstandard rendered consulting services to 654 enterprises and signed 29 international agreements in the field of standardization, metrology, certification, accreditation, exports and the implementation of international and country requirements.
Share of small businesses in industry of Uzbekistan made up 31.8% in the first half of 2015 against 28.9% in the same period of 2014.
At the same time, share of small businesses in retail turnover grew from 85.9% in the first half of 2014 to 86.3% in January-June 2015, paid services – from 45.2% to 47.6%, and employment – from 76.8% to 77.2%.
In the reporting period, some 15,200 new small businesses were created in Uzbekistan, which rose by 6.3% compared to the same period of 2014.
Largest number of small businesses was registered in industry and other production sectors (36.5% from total number), construction (11.5%), trade and catering (29.8%).