The report said the region also recorded growth in agriculture, construction, trade, paid services, but the industrial output’s contribution of gross regional product was the most significant.

The newspaper underlined that the industrial output was equal to 800 billion soums in 2004, while in the first half of 2008 the figure reached 1.4 trillion soums. It added that the share of industrial production in GRP was 20.3% in 2003, but now it is expected that the figure will be at least 32.2%-32.5%.

Kashkadarya region is one of the important regions of Uzbekistan and it is rich for natural resources, including oil and gas. Large enterprises like Shortan Gas Chemical Complex, Kokdumalak oil and gas deposit with its complex and others located here.

The paper said the region used 716 billion soums of capital investments in six months of 2008 or 1.5 times more year-on-year. About 525 billion soums or 73.3% were direct investments into production, including 210 billion soums of foreign investments.

Oil and gas production is one of the important sectors for the region, but economic growth of the region also based on production of other goods as well. The newspaper said the gas production in the region increased by 0.4% in the first half of 2008, brimstone production – 29.9%, condensate – 20.9%, plastic pipes – 34.7%, baked bricks – 25.4%, cotton-fiber – 34.9%, vegetable oil – 40.6%.

The report said about 106 projects on installation of new equipment and 45 projects on modernization of the capacities were implemented in the region. About 170 billion soums were directed for these purposes.

Enterprises of Kashkadarya region exported products for US$555 million in the first half of 2008 or about twice as much as in the same period of 2007. In particular, the light industry of the region increased 1.5 times.