Foreign economic relations and practical work

Every country sells abroad the products it makes plentifully or cheaply and buys what it lacks or what is cheaper from abroad. Taking goods out of the country is export, bringing them in from abroad is import. A country’s foreign trade is affected by its economic geographic position, production capacity and the international division of labour. Uzbekistan trades with more than a hundred states; among the biggest partners are China, Russia, Kazakhstan and Turkey, as well as South Korea, Germany and others. In exports, gold, textiles (yarn, fabric, clothing), chemicals, non-ferrous metals, and fruit and vegetables hold important places. Imports are mainly machines, equipment, vehicles and spare parts, petroleum products, chemicals and food. In recent years the aim has been to raise the share of finished goods instead of raw materials, that is, to increase added value. Investment is the placing of foreign capital to renew production; many enterprises with foreign capital work in the country, and it cooperates with financial organizations such as the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank. International organizations include the UN, the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, the CIS and others; the country is working to join the World Trade Organization. Free economic zones, first of all the Navoi zone, strengthen foreign links. For many years imports have exceeded exports.