Uzbekistan's economy grows 3.6% in first quarter

Interfax May 31 Uzbekistan's GDP grew 3.6% year-on- year in the first quarter of 2006 to 3.19 trillion sum, the State Statistics Committee told Interfax. Industrial output rose 6.8% to 3.31 trillion sum, consumer goods output 14.2% to 829.4 billion sum and agricultural output 4.5% to 604.8 billion sum. Capital investment rose 4.5% to 615.6 billion sum. The trade surplus widened to $380.2 million, from $362.5 million in the same period of last year. Foreign trade turnover grew 4.1% year-on-year to $2.38 billion, including growth of 4.4% to $1.38 billion for exports and growth of 3.6% to $999.7 million for imports. The government is targeting 7.2% GDP growth for 2006, with rises of 9% for industrial output, 5.2% for farm output and 7.5% for capex.