DUSHANBE, October 19, Asia-Plus - Tajikistan’s gross domestic product (GDP) rose 7.6 percent over the first nine months of the year to 6.52 billion somonis (equivalent to more than US $1.92 billion) while the inflation rate was at 7 percent, Finance Minister Safarali Najmuddinov announced at a news conference in Dushanbe on October 18. 

According to the State Committee for Statistics, industrial output has grown by 6.2 percent over the same period and amounted to 3.215 billion somonis. In January-September 2006, of 705 industrial enterprises, 408 or 58.1 percent exceeded their production level over last year’s. 

In the first three quarters of this year, there were 205 enterprises, or 29.2 percent of the overall number, that had ceased operation. 

Enterprises monitored by the Ministry of Industry had output valued at 284.5 million somonis in the past nine months, 4 percent more than last year. 

In January-September 2006, the gross agricultural product from all types of farms was 317.6 million somonis (in current prices), down by .8 percent compared to the first three quarters of last year. 

In January-September 2006, gross agricultural product from all categories of farms was 317.6 million somonis (in current prices), down by 0.8 percent compared to the first three quarters of last year.