KHUAJND, April 28, Asia-Plus — Over the first three months of this year, the foreign trade turnover of the northern province of Sughd, including electric energy and natural gas, has amounted to $192.27 million, which is 130.04 percent of the January-March 2007 level or $44.41 million more, Sulton Erboyev, the deputy head of the Sughd customs directorate, remarked at a press conference in Khujand on April 25.
The trade balance was negative and amounted to 132.69 million US dollars.
In January-March 2008, exports of goods have amounted to $29.79 million, which is $7.68 or 20.5 percent fewer than in the same period of last year.
Imports of goods into the province over the report period have amounted to $162.48 million, which is $52.09 million or 47.2 percent more than in January-March 2007.
According to Erboyev, exports decreased due to a decline in export of cotton fiber and other farm produce, as well as minerals and concentrates.
123 million somonis in customs duties have been collected in the province over the same three-month period, which is 43.4 million somonis or 54.5 percent more than in the same period of last year, Erboyev said.
