|
|
Uzbekistan
The Republic of
Uzbekistan is situated in the central and north‑western part
of Central Asia in the interstream area of Amudarya and
Syrdarya. In the north and north/west, Uzbekistan borders
with Kazakhstan, In the east and south/east with Kyrgyzstan
and Tajikistan, In the south with Afghanistan and in the
south west – with Turkmenistan. By its total area 173,320
square miles (448,900 square km)
Uzbekistan surpasses such European States as Belgium, Great
Britain, Denmark, Switzerland and Austria taken together.
The population
of Uzbekistan is 23.7 million people. In the country there
are the representatives of 130 nationalities, out of which
the most numerous are Uzbeks (80 %), then
Russians (5.5 %), Tajiks (5 %), Kazakhs (3.0 %), Karakalpaks
(2.5 %), Tatars (1.5 %) and the others (2.5%).
The average age
of the population of Uzbekistan is 24 years.
The official language is Uzbek. The Uzbeks speak the
language, which belongs to the south‑east or Chagatai
(Turkic) subgroup of the Turkic language family. The
majority of population, especially urban people, has a
command of the Russian language.
The most of the
believers confess Islam (88 %). The Uzbeks are Muslims
(Sunni).
According to the
Constitution adopted in 1992, the Head of the State is the
President elected on the basis of the universal and direct
secret suffrage for the 5‑year period with the right of
being reelected. The President is at the same time Head of
the high powered executive body - the Cabinet of Ministers.
Mr. Islam Karimov is the current President of the Republic
of Uzbekistan.
The high
legislative body of the country is the one‑chamber Oliy
Majlis (Parliament) with 250 deputies in it.
The court system
consists of the Constitutional Court, Supreme Court and
Higher Economic Court of Uzbekistan.
The Supreme Court and High Economic Court of Uzbekistan are
elected for 5 years. The regional, municipal and district
courts are also elected for the same period.
Uzbekistan is
one of the leading world producers of cotton.
The country occupies the 4th place in the world by
producing cotton fiber and the 2nd place by its export.
Also, the country produces
and exports a large volume of natural gas not only to the
Central Asian and CIS countries but to Europe as well.
The Republic
manufactures machinery and equipment and has
the powerful energetic system.
The transport
system of the country practically meets the domestic demands
for transportation. In the Republic
there is the highest density in Central Asia of railways and
motor-ways. Located in between Europe
and Asia, the Republic serves as an international transport
junction to provide for the passenger, cargo and transit air
transportation.
Uzbekistan is an
important region dealing with growing of astrakhan and
silkworm. The Republic takes a leading place among the
regional countries in the output of fruits, vegetables and
grapes.
Imports:
Total value:
4091.3 million US $ (2005)
Major Items:
Minerals and chemicals, grains, rubber, plastic, machinery
and equipment, energy products, textile, pharmacological
products, perfume, cosmetics and detergents, ferrous &
non-ferrous metals, foodstuffs.
Exports: Total value:
5408.8 million US $ (2005)
Major Items:
Cotton, gold, natural gas, fertilizers, silk, mineral and
chemical goods, energy products, ferrous and non-ferrous
metals, textiles, food products, equipment and mechanical
devices, electrical machines and equipment, gears and
apparatus, automobiles.
The Republic has
big reserves of minerals. By copper reserves the Republic is
in the 10‑11 place in the world, by reserves of uranium ‑ in
the 7‑8 place. In the country's subsoils there are huge
reserves of oil and gas. About 60 % of
the country’s territory are prospective for their recovery.
Uzbekistan possesses large reserves of coal as well.
The Republic is
amongst the countries, which possess the biggest resources
of gold, silver and other precious and rare‑earth metals.
It has its own silver deposits.
Uzbekistan is rich in
the reserves of non‑ferrous metals, copper, lead, zinc,
tungsten, rhenium and others. In the country there are
disposed deposits of marble, granite and gabbro.
The Republic is rich in phosphorites and has the
largest deposits of potash and rock salt.
|
|
