Uzbek President Islam Karimov

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- The Uzbek government has summed up the outcomes of the country’s socioeconomic development in 2008 and outlined priorities for 2009.

"Despite the emerging problems and difficulties, the country managed to secure not only stable functioning of the economy but also its sustainable growth in 2008," President Islam Karimov said at a government session.

Uzbekistan’s GDP grew by 9% in 2008, and the country saw industrial growth by 12.7%, including 17.7% growth in the consumer products sector and 21.3% growth in the public services sector, Uzbek leader said.

The agricultural sector grew by 4.5%.

Uzbekistan produced 3.41 million tonnes of raw cotton and 6.33 million tonnes of grain, including 6.145 million tonnes of wheat, in 2008.

Instead of the earlier planned budget deficit, the Uzbek budget saw a surplus of 1.5% of GDP. Inflation in Uzbekistan was 7.8%.