Key Points
* The development of Uzbekistan and other Central Asian countries is directly dependent on integration processes in Central Eurasia: the history of Uzbekistan and Central Asia is a success story given economic integration, particularly as part of Great Silk Road as well as USSR and one of failure when it is absent.
* Uzbekistans economy as part of the USSR:
- prioritised agro-industry
- trade was predominantly with other USSR republics (60% Russia)
- around 65% of intra-USSR exports were raw materials or semifinished goods and over 70% of imports industrial and consumer goods
- world-standard social support, which was possible only because of around $4.9bn subsidy from USSRs central budget
* Uzbekistans social and economic spheres suffered catastrophically from the disintegration of the USSR:
- in the early 90s industrial production fell by 90%, agricultural food
exports by 5-6 times
- by 1995 social expenditure had fallen by more than 60% compared to 1991
- in the early 90s it was on the verge of destabilisation (though not as
bad as its neighbours - Tajikistan or Afghanistan)
* Uzbekistan has survived this difficult period and emerged from systemic crisis - by 2000 it had returned to 1991 economic levels: the Uzbek model works. But it, and other post-soviet countries, cannot make further progress using national resources alone. Deeper economic alliance with Russia and a heightened willingness of post soviet space towards economic integration are required.
