Uzbekistan

UZBEKISTAN

Information about travelling to Uzbekistan

Uzbekistan is located in Central Asia, north of Afghanistan

Facts about Uzbekistan
Population27,345,026 (July 2008 est
CapitalTashkent (Toshkent)
Time zoneUTC+5 (10 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
Location Central Asia, north of Afghanistan

General info about Uzbekistan
Russia conquered Uzbekistan in the late 19th century. Stiff resistance to the Red Army after World War I was eventually suppressed and a socialist republic set up in 1924. During the Soviet era, intensive production of "white gold" (cotton) and grain led to overuse of agrochemicals and the depletion of water supplies, which have left the land poisoned and the Aral Sea and certain rivers half dry. Independent since 1991, the country seeks to gradually lessen its dependence on agriculture while developing its mineral and petroleum reserves. Current concerns include terrorism by Islamic militants, economic stagnation, and the curtailment of human rights and democratization.
Languages spoken
Uzbek 74.3%, Russian 14.2%, Tajik 4.4%, other 7.1%
What about drugs?
transit country for Afghan narcotics bound for Russian and, to a lesser extent, Western European markets; limited illicit cultivation of cannabis and small amounts of opium poppy for domestic consumption; poppy cultivation almost wiped out by government crop eradication program; transit point for heroin precursor chemicals bound for Afghanistan
Ethnic division
Uzbek 80%, Russian 5.5%, Tajik 5%, Kazakh 3%, Karakalpak 2.5%, Tatar 1.5%, other 2.5% (1996 est.)
HIV/AIDS prevalence rate
less than 0.1% (2001 est.)
Climate
mostly midlatitude desert, long, hot summers, mild winters; semiarid grassland in east
Resources
natural gas, petroleum, coal, gold, uranium, silver, copper, lead and zinc, tungsten, molybdenum
Economy
Uzbekistan is a dry, landlocked country of which 11% consists of intensely cultivated, irrigated river valleys. More than 60% of its population lives in densely populated rural communities. Uzbekistan is now the world's second-largest cotton exporter and fifth largest producer; it relies heavily on cotton production as the major source of export earnings and has come under increasing international criticism for the use of child labor in its annual cotton harvest. Other major export earners include gold, natural gas, and oil. Following independence in September 1991, the government sought to prop up its Soviet-style command economy with subsidies and tight controls on production and prices. While aware of the need to improve the investment climate, the government still sponsors measures that often increase, not decrease, its control over business decisions. A sharp increase in the inequality of income distribution has hurt the lower ranks of society since independence. In 2003, the government accepted Article VIII obligations under the IMF, providing for full currency convertibility. However, strict currency controls and tightening of borders have lessened the effects of convertibility and have also led to some shortages that have further stifled economic activity. The Central Bank often delays or restricts convertibility, especially for consumer goods. Potential investment by Russia and China in Uzbekistan's gas and oil industry, as well as increased cooperation with South Korea in the realm of civil aviation, may boost growth prospects. In November 2005, Russian President Vladimir PUTIN and Uzbekistan President KARIMOV signed an "alliance," which included provisions for economic and business cooperation. Russian businesses have shown increased interest in Uzbekistan, especially in mining, telecom, and oil and gas. In 2006, Uzbekistan took steps to rejoin the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) and the Eurasian Economic Community (EurASEC), which it subsequently left in 2008, both organizations dominated by Russia. Uzbek authorities have accused US and other foreign companies operating in Uzbekistan of violating Uzbek tax laws and have frozen their assets.
Environment
shrinkage of the Aral Sea is resulting in growing concentrations of chemical pesticides and natural salts; these substances are then blown from the increasingly exposed lake bed and contribute to desertification; water pollution from industrial wastes and the heavy use of fertilizers and pesticides is the cause of many human health disorders; increasing soil salination; soil contamination from buried nuclear processing and agricultural chemicals, including DDT

Cities in Uzbekistan

aktash     almazar     andijon     angren     asaka     bekobod     bektemir     beruni     boysun     boz     buka     denau     druzhba     dustlik     gagarin     gazalkent     gazli     guliston     gurlan     hamza     hazorasp     iskandar     karauzyak     karmana     kegayli     kibray     kitob     kogon     koson     kosonsoy     krasnogorskiy     kuva     kuybyshevo     mangit     maymanak     muborak     namangan     navoi     nukus     nurobod     nurota     ohangaron     olot     parkent     paytug     pop     pskent     romitan     salar     samarkand     soldatskiy     stantsiya gorchakovo     tashkent     termiz     turtkul     tuytepa     urgut     urtaaul     yaypan     zomin    


Airports in Uzbekistan
AndizhanAZN
BukharaBHK
FerganaFEG
KarshiKSQ
NukusNCU
NamanganNMA
SamarkandSKD
VostochnyTAS
TermezTMJ
UrgenchUGC


Beer in Uzbekistan (0.33l)
Tashkent~ 0.6 EUR

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