러시아ㆍ유라시아

GDP growth remains robust, although below the figures reported for 2016. The growth rate eased from the official 7.8 per cent in 2016 to a more realistic 5.3 per cent in 2017 and 5.2 per cent year-on-year in the first three quarters of 2018. Growth was driven by expansion in services, industrial production and construction.

The authorities continued to implement major reforms. Progress has occurred in a number of areas in the past year, including foreign trade liberalisation, progress on fiscal and tax reform, changes in the customs regime, the abolition of annual state-investment programmes and a reduction in state-directed lending.

Connectivity with other Central Asian countries is being significantly improved. Initiatives led by Uzbekistan over 2017-18 resulted in the opening of new border crossings with Kazakhstan, border demarcation with the Kyrgyz Republic, reopened rail and road connections with Tajikistan, and the resumption of electricity exports from there.