) is either in prison or in exile

International organization participation: AsDB, CCC, CIS, EBRD,
ECE, ECO, ESCAP, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF,
Interpol, IOC, ISO, ITU, NACC, NAM, OIC (observer), OSCE, PFP, UN,
UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO (applicant)

Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Fatiq TESHABAYEV
chancery: (temporary) Suites 619 and 623, 1511 K Street NW,
Washington, DC 20005
telephone: [1] (202) 638-4266, 4267
FAX: [1] (202) 638-4268

US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission: Ambassador Stanley T. ESCUDERO
embassy: 82 Chilanzarskaya, Tashkent
mailing address: use embassy street address
telephone: [7] (3712) 77-14-07, 77-10-81, 77-69-86
FAX: [7] (3712) 89-13-35

Flag: three equal horizontal bands of blue (top), white, and green
separated by red fimbriations with a crescent moon and 12 stars in
the upper hoist-side quadrant

Economy
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Economic overview: Uzbekistan is a dry, landlocked country of
which 10% consists of intensely cultivated, irrigated river valleys.
It was one of the poorest republics of the former Soviet Union with
more than 60% of its population living in overpopulated rural
communities. At the same time, Uzbekistan is the world's third
largest cotton exporter, a major producer of gold and natural gas,
and a regionally significant producer of chemicals and machinery.
Following independence, the government sought to prop up its
Soviet-style command economy with subsidies and tight controls on
production and prices. Faced with high rates of inflation, however,
the government stepped up the pace of reform in mid-1994, by
introducing tighter monetary policies, expanding privatization,
reducing the role of the state in the economy, and improving the
environment for foreign investors. Nevertheless, the state continues
to be a dominating influence in the economy, and reforms have so far
failed to induce far-reaching structural changes.

GDP: purchasing power parity - $54.7 billion (1995 estimate as
extrapolated from World Bank estimate for 1994)

GDP real growth rate: -1% (1995 est.)

GDP per capita: $2,370 (1995 est.)

GDP composition by sector:
agriculture: NA%
industry: NA%
services: NA%

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 7.7% monthly average
(January-October 1995 est.)

Labor force: 8.234 million
by occupation: agricult