- Major development news
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November 14, 2008. Uzbekistan: Basket case economy emerges from the shadows
The central Asian republic of Uzbekistan is set to overtake Ukraine to become the largest consumer market in the Commonwealth of Independent States within the next decade. Little more than a basket case economy since President Islam Karimov clamped down on foreign exchange in 1996, the source of most of the Soviet Union's cotton has begun to flourish.
The only one of the five so-called 'stans' to share a border with all the others, its 27m strong population is the largest in the region, making it a natural production and distribution centre. An increase in real disposable income in recent years, albeit from a low base, has stimulated consumer markets across the board. Official data shows that real disposable income increased by 20 per cent in 2006 and by the same amount in 2007: Gross domestic product per capita is now $2,300 on a purchasing power parity basis and is fuelling a shopping binge. Car sales doubled between 2005 and 2007. Mobile penetration is the fastest growing in the CIS growing from just 1.5 per cent in 2005 to more than 35 per cent in August 2008. And the 20 per cent increase in imports in 2007 was in part due to rising imports of consumer products.
- Newly added publications
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- The EU and Central Asia: Strategy for a New Partnership
- Dushanbe Joint Statement of the Participants of OSCE Conference on the prospects for the development of trans-Asian and Eurasian transit transportation through Central Asia till the year 2015
- Human Development Report 2007/2008. Fighting climate change: Human solidarity in a divided world
- Regional events
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- July 20, 2008. International Congress of Psychology
More information… - August 25, 2008. UNDP is conducting the training on Human Development for the teachers of Higher educational establishments
More information...
- July 20, 2008. International Congress of Psychology
- Links to news on the countries
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- Kazakhstan
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November 14, 2008. Kazakh President attends opening of Kaplanbek check point at Kazakh-Uzbek border
More information... - Kyrgyzstan
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November 14, 2008. Kyrgyz Culture in Great Britain.
More information... - Tajikistan
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November 14, 2008. Tajikistan: European Union Boosting its Presence in Dushanbe
Mope information... - Turkmenistan
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November 14, 2008. Turkmen president leaves for Germany on official visit
More information... - Uzbekistan
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November 14, 2008. MTS-Uzbekistan' net income up 75.4% to US$43.5 million
More information...
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