KHUJAND, July 15, 2009, Asia-Plus  -- In January-July 2009, the northern Sughd province has produced a total of 489.3742 million somoni over the first six months of this year, according to the Sughd agency for statistics.

Compared to January-June 2008 the index of the volume of production of industrial amounted to 100.7 percent

Joint ventures operating in the province amounted to 19.9 percent of the overall volume of industrial goods manufactured in Sughd over the report period.

Over the same six-month period, 138 enterprises, or 58.7 percent of the overall number of local enterprises, have reached the January-June 2008 level, 75 other enterprises (31.9 percent) have reduced production volumes and 22 enterprises (9.4 percent) have not been in operation.

Of the 76 basic types of industrial products the output of 30 items (39.5) percent increased and the output of 31 (40.8 percent) decreased.  

The source says the main reasons for decrease in industrial production volumes were severe electricity shortages, improper use of production capacities, shortage of circulating assets, raw materials and lack of product market.