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Uzbekistan is among the world's leading cotton producers. The country also produces and exports a large volume of natural gas. Known for its orchards and vineyards, Uzbekistan is also an important region for raising Karakul sheep and silkworms. Uzbekistan's mineral and oil and gas reserves are substantial.

Uzbekistan possesses a very favorable geopolitical location. At present Uzbekistan is the center of the Central Asian region and serves as a connecting link between the neighboring independent republics of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan and Tajikistan. Uzbekistan's location is favorable for large-scale development of the agrarian sector of the economy. They produce the most valuable agricultural crops and livestock breeding products, which are very much in demand on the world market.

Uzbekistan has rich natural potentials. Its deposits are huge and unique, and much of these minerals and raw material resources are not yet involved in production. All of the elements of the periodic table are found in Uzbekistan. These resources are assessed at $3 trillion. The Republic accounts for 74% condense gas, 31% crude oil, 40% natural gas and 55% coal of the entire Central Asia region. Resources of natural gas make up around 2 trillion cubic meters, coal, more than 2 billion tons, and crude oil, 350 billion tons. The Republic rates third in natural gas production among the CIS countries and is among the world's ten biggest gas producing countries. Uzbekistan stands out in its resources and extraction of precious and rare earth metals: gold of the highest standard, silver, uranium and others.

The Republic ranks second among CIS countries and fifth in the world in gold production.Uzbekistan rates third in the world in cotton fiber production and second in its export. The Republic now produces up to 5 million tons of fruits and vegetables, by far exceeding its domestic demand.

Uzbekistan possesses broad potential for developing tourism. Such historical museum-cities as Samarkand, Bukhara, Khiva, Shahrisabz, Kokand and Termez are known all over the world. There are around 4 thousand monuments of architecture in the country. The available recreational resources permit to receive tourists all year round.

Hospitable and industrious people are the true treasure of Uzbekistan. The total population is about 24 million, some 40% live in cities and towns, the rest in rural areas. A high level of education characterizes the republic’s labor force. By law, everyone must have a high school diploma and every fourth person engaged in the national economy has a higher or specialized secondary education.

Industrial enterprises from heavy production (machine building, aircraft industry, automobile industry) to light production (processing of agricultural products and science-intensive industries) operate in all sectors. Two thirds of the machine- building products made in Central Asia are produced in Uzbekistan.

Uzbekistan has a sufficiently developed infrastructure for the implementation of large-scale investment projects. The Republic has a far-flung transportation system, providing internal and external cargo and passenger conveyance, as well as economic relations with foreign countries. The existing enormous intellectual and productive potential, combined with the state independence, creates opportunity for radical reforms to the national economy, thus attracting foreign investments.