The region of Central Asia is rich in natural resources. The reason for this is the structure of the surface of Central Asia, which is due to a complex geological history: several phases of mountain building, the growth and destruction of mountains, the advance and retreat of the sea, changes in atmospheric circulation, glaciations. The seismic activity of the territory is associated with mountain building (earthquakes up to 9 points often occur here), as well as the placement of most of the minerals - oil, gas, coal, gold, polymetals, rock crystal, rock salt.

Natural resource potential

The natural resource potential of a territory (NRP) is the totality of its natural resources, which can be used in economic activity, taking into account scientific and technological progress. The territory of Central Asia is rich in various natural resources.

Table 1 - energy resource potential of the Central Asian countries

Organic fuel plays the leading role in the production and consumption of fuel and energy resources (FER) in the region. Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan account for over 20% of the world's proven uranium reserves. Explored reserves of coal will last more than 600 years, oil - 65 years, natural gas - 75 years. At present, the region is increasingly identified as a potential supplier of hydrocarbons in various directions and to various markets, and there are many possible projects and export routes.

Rich reserves of fuel and energy resources are distributed unevenly across their territories. Thus, 88.6% of the explored coal reserves in the region are concentrated in Kazakhstan, and 86% of oil. In Uzbekistan, coal - 4.9%. Gas reserves are more or less evenly distributed between Turkmenistan (43%), Uzbekistan (30%) and Kazakhstan (27%).

More than half of the total volume of consumed energy resources in the Central Asian Republics (CAR) falls on the share of natural gas, about 3/4 of which is used in Uzbekistan. The second place is occupied by coal consumption, about 93% of which is used in Kazakhstan. Uzbekistan uses 38% of the oil consumed in the region, 34% falls on the share of Kazakhstan.

Table 2 - Gas production in Central Asia and Russia

The countries of Central Asia have significant reserves of water and energy resources, which are distributed extremely unevenly across the territories of the states. The region contains 5.5% of the economically effective hydro potential of the world. The total hydropower potential of the region is 937 billion kWh of electricity per year. A significant part of this potential (56.2%) is concentrated in Tajikistan, but its development is at a low level. Kyrgyzstan (0.8 million kWh/sq. km) and Tajikistan (3.7 million kWh/sq. km) are especially different in terms of annual hydropower potential per unit of the country's territory.

Within Kyrgyzstan, 25% of the total flow of the rivers of the Aral Sea basin is formed, Tajikistan - 43%, Uzbekistan - 10%, Kazakhstan - 2%, Turkmenistan - 1%. In the energy balance of Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan, the basic source is hydropower. The share of hydropower plants in the installed capacity in the whole of the United Energy System (IPS) of Central Asia reached 35%, in Kyrgyzstan - 79%, Tajikistan - 93%. Uzbekistan generates 52% of the total electricity. Kazakhstan annually faces seasonal flooding in the southern regions and a high concentration of salts in the mouth of the river, lack of irrigation water in the summer, which led to the emergence of a number of social and environmental problems. In general, the use of the economically efficient part of the hydropower potential in the region does not yet exceed 10%.

In general, the determination of the consequences of the global crisis in the countries of Central Asia is possible subject to significant investment in the sectors most affected by the crisis, taking into account the specifics of each country. The decline in foreign investment in these sectors is the most serious problem. Remaining political risks do not add optimism regarding investment attractiveness countries of the region. The reduction of foreign investment in the modernization of hydrotechnical facilities could lead to a new energy crisis throughout the region and increase tensions between neighboring states. Therefore, it is necessary, first of all, to strengthen integration interaction by combining the efforts of the countries of Central Asia to solve common regional problems. Concerted action the most important factor regional security and a necessary condition for developing the production capacities of the fuel and energy complex of the countries of the region, increasing their energy self-sufficiency, expanding the energy export potential, saving investment resources.

At the same time, the region has large renewable energy resources, the introduction of which into the energy balance can be a significant contribution to achieving sustainable economic development, a stable energy market, and ensuring favorable environmental conditions. In a number of republics, the trend towards the use of renewable energy sources (RES) is at the stage of developing National Programs.

The above concepts of the countries of the region in the development of energy industries lead to the need to diversify the structure of the energy sector, including expanding the use of renewable energy sources. As a number of studies show, the share of renewable energy in the energy balance by 2050 should be about 18% or even higher in order to stabilize the content of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.

In general, the analysis of the potentials of the energy resources of the countries of Central Asia determines important issues requiring the collective efforts of all the states of the region:

Consolidation of water and energy resources, since for decades a single energy system has been functioning in the region with the dominant role of the hydropower industry of Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan and gas supply, the main suppliers of which were Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan;

Cooperation in the field of ecology. As a result of extensive exploitation environment the possibility of its reproduction is significantly undermined;

Rational, efficient water use of transboundary rivers. The socio-economic and environmental well-being of the states of Central Asia depends on a comprehensive solution to this problem.

Population

The history of Central Asia is extremely complex, the territory of which lay on the path of invasions by many conquerors and powerful migrations that influenced the composition of the population, the formation of languages, and culture. Large states were formed that left a deep mark on history, and collapsed under the blows of the conquerors. The periods of prosperity of cities, agricultural oases were replaced by their death and desolation, high achievements of science and art alternated with times of decline in culture, stagnation. On the ruins of the collapsed states, new ones arose, there were endless feudal wars.

Under these conditions, the process of ethnic formation of the peoples of Central Asia was going on. The initial elements of the ethnic community of today's nations were formed back in the 9th-12th centuries. The peoples of Central Asia are linked by ethnic kinship. In addition, the ancestors of many of them for a long time were part of the same states, fought together against foreign invaders. They were also brought together by their joint participation in uprisings against feudal rulers, as well as constant economic and cultural communication.

The natural resources of the plains of Central Asia are diverse. Of the combustible minerals, Jurassic coal was found in Dzhanak and brown coal in Mangyshlak and in the Alakul region; oil and gas in Mangyshlak, in Bukhara and in the Ili depression, oil in the Cheleken peninsula, in Nebit-Dag and Kum-Dag, ozokerite in Cheleken. Of the deposits of ore minerals, manganese is becoming known in Mangyshlak (Aitkoksh), oolitic iron ore in the Northern Prearalie. Asbestos, graphite and copper were found on the territory of the Paleozoic uplands of the Kyzyl Kum. In the Lowland Karakum, sulfur has been mined for many years in the Sulfur Hills, located 250 km north of Ashgabat, in last years explored gas reserves. The richest reserves of self-planting salts are found in the Kara-Bogaz-Gol Bay on the Caspian Sea (mirabilite), in the Karagie tectonic depression (magnesian salts), in the Aralsk region (astrakhanite) and the Aral Sea region (sodium sulfate). Gypsum and table salt are everywhere unlimited.

The plains of Central Asia are rich in light and warmth. In the Lowland Karakum, heat resources for the period with temperatures over 10°C exceed 5000C, in the Kyzyl Kum - about 4000°C; in the deserts of the Aral Sea region, the Southern Balkhash region and in the Muyunkums - 3000-3500 ° С. With such heat resources, in the presence of water, subtropical plants such as fine-staple cotton, sesame, peanuts, the world-famous Chardzhui melons, and high-sugar table grape varieties are successfully grown in the southern deserts. Over the past decades, new crops for those places have been mastered on the plains of Central Asia: southern hemp, kenaf, jute, sugar beets. Southern fruit growing is successfully developing.

The plains of Central Asia are poor in surface watercourses, except for transit rivers, the sources of which are located in mountainous areas. Measures for the collection and storage of temporary runoff water, including the construction of underground rainwater collectors, are of great economic importance.

The underground waters of the plains are concentrated in the vast Artevian basins explored by Soviet hydrogeologists in recent decades. Among the basins, the Aral group (Turgai, Syr-Darya and Karakum) of artesian basins is distinguished. Within the Tien Shan folded region are the Chui and Iliisk basins, in the Dzungar region - a group of artesian basins of the Balkhash region. In all basins there are pressure (self-flowing) or semi-pressure waters of different flow rates and variegated mineralization - from fresh to salty inclusive. Part of groundwater is used for drinking needs of the population and animal husbandry. For this purpose, many shaft and artesian wells have been built in the deserts in the past decade.

The deepest groundwater was found on the Badkhyz and Karabil plateaus. Here, dug wells for watering livestock reach a depth of 200-260 m. Upon reaching the Karakum, groundwater rises closer to the surface (15-40 m and closer) and becomes noticeably saline. The eastern regions of the Zaunguz Karakum are relatively well supplied with water, and the western regions of the Low Karakum are poorly watered. In the Kyzylkums, as well as in the Aral Sea, Muyunkums and Southern Balkhash, there is fresh groundwater everywhere in the sands, the flow rate of which is mostly small, but the total reserves of fresh and slightly brackish groundwater in Muyunkums and in the sandy massifs of the Southern Balkhash are large. On the piedmont plains, groundwater often wedges out, forming numerous "karas" - small streams and rivers used by the population for irrigation and watering. The abundance of "Karasu" can be observed on the piedmont plains of the northern slopes of the Kyrgyz, Trans-Ili and Dzhungar ranges, in the Ferghana Valley.

The development of solar technology makes it possible to obtain fresh water from brackish and saline groundwater. The plant resources of the plains are of great economic importance in connection with the intensive development of animal husbandry, in particular astrakhan breeding and fine-wool sheep breeding. Pastures are the dominant type of economic land in the deserts and semi-deserts of Central Asia. The fodder value of desert-tree and sagebrush associations is the greatest. Deserts with a predominance of desert-tree associations, which, along with saxaul, kandyms and other trees, contain many ephemeroids and ephemera, are mostly used as year-round pastures. The average productivity of fodder mass is 0.8-1.9 q/ha. Deserts with wormwood dominating vegetation are considered the best autumn-winter pastures. Their average fodder productivity is 1.3-2.7 q/ha. In the tugai, horses and cattle are most often pastured. Hay is harvested in reed and sedge bogs.

The most valuable forage are psammophytic shrub and saltwort communities.

In the fuel balance of the republics of Central Asia, a prominent place belongs to the wood of saxaul sparse forests. Of the total area of ​​20.5 million hectares of desert forests and thickets of Central Asia, 19.8 million hectares fall to the share of saxaul forests. The stock of timber in this area is about 35 million liters * 1 .

The bonitet of saxaul stands is closely related to the level of groundwater and the type of soil: the best saxaul stands develop on sandy and light loamy soils with groundwater at a depth of 3-8 m.

For the decade 1947-1967. Saxaul and desert shrubs were sown on an area of ​​about 97 million hectares.

Large areas of land have been developed for agriculture in the largest irrigated oases: Fergana, Khorezm, Tashkent Zeravshan, Murgab, Tedzhen, Gol with one steppe, Chuisky, Talas, Semirechensk. The total irrigated land in the Central Asian republics, excluding Tajikistan, is 6.8 million hectares. In the future, it is possible to irrigate about 15 million hectares in the republics of Central Asia and Kazakhstan (BD Korzhavin, 1962).

During the Soviet period, the Aral, Repetek and Dzhezkazgan experimental stations did a great deal of work on studying the methods of developing deserts and fixing sands. They developed a series effective methods oasis transformation of deserts: new methods of rainfed and irrigated farming and foraging, developed a trench method for growing vegetables, potatoes and fruits in the sands, scientifically substantiated and introduced into production effective ways fixing sands and their afforestation. All these methods make it possible to more rationally use the natural resources of the deserts of Central Asia.

The work of zoologists and physicians on the elimination of Asian locust nests, a sharp decrease in the incidence of malaria, and the development of methods for combating ticks and other vectors of serious diseases in humans and animals are of inestimable importance.

On the plains of Central Asia, fur and other animal industries are of some importance. Commercial species of animals that occupy a prominent place in the national economy of the plains include ground squirrels, jerboas, muskrat acclimatized on Balkhash (Ili river delta) since 1935, goitered gazelles and saigas, the shooting of which is limited by the law on nature protection. Wild boars are shot in the tugai and a lot of waterfowl are hunted - ducks, coots, geese, cormorants, less - pheasants.

The protection and expanded reproduction of natural resources are the most important state and public activities. The regulation of cattle grazing on the sands and the hunting of animals, as well as the rational use of water resources, require close attention.

In the modern political understanding, Central Asia is Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan and Kazakhstan. There are other definitions, in particular - according to UNESCO - the region includes Mongolia, Western China, Punjab, northern India and northern Pakistan, northeastern Iran, Afghanistan, areas of Asian Russia south of the taiga zone and five former Soviet republics of Central Asia. We will use the narrower first interpretation of the region and consider the situation in the economies of these post-Soviet Asian republics. To some extent, the socio-economic situation, mentality and cultural background in these countries can be called similar.

The Central Asian region occupies a modest share in the world economy - about 0.3%. With a share of the population in the world population of about 1%, the economy in terms of GDP lags behind by about 3 times.

The new economic role of this region is determined by the presence of a number of factors:

• the region has many valuable resources, primarily large reserves of hydrocarbons;
• located in the center of the Eurasian continent, the region plays an important role in maintaining the security and stability of a part of the continent,
• and also due to the presence of a wide transport and communication network, the countries of the region use their full potential as transit states.

For the world economy, the Central Asian region is interesting, first of all, as a source of raw materials. Oil, gas, coal and metals are currently the most sought-after exported commodities, in turn, the products of the agricultural sector also provide dynamic growth.

According to confirmed data, the total volume of oil reserves in the countries of Central Asia reaches 15-31 billion barrels, and the total volume of natural gas reserves is 230-360 trillion. cubic meters, which is 7.2% of the world's oil resources and 7% of gas resources. The region ranks 10th in the world in terms of coal production, and 19th in terms of electricity generation. It has large reserves of ferrous, non-ferrous and rare metals; in terms of total gold production (Uzbekistan - 90 tons, Kyrgyzstan - 24, Kazakhstan - 18.9) it ranks 9th.

The states of Central Asia have a powerful mining, fuel and energy, metallurgical and chemical industries, concentrated mainly in Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan.

In terms of oil production, Kazakhstan occupies the first place (80 million tons); 2nd - Turkmenistan (6 million tons) and 3rd - Uzbekistan (5 million tons). Turkmenistan is rich in natural gas deposits, which ranks second in the CIS after Russia in terms of reserves. Coal deposits are available in all republics, with the exception of Turkmenistan.

The electric power industry in the countries of Central Asia is relatively well developed. Kazakhstan generates up to 90 billion kWh; Uzbekistan 52-54 billion kWh.

Metallurgy is unevenly developed. Kazakhstan stands out, smelting up to 2.0 million tons of steel per year, and Uzbekistan (0.6 million tons). Polymetallic products are diverse: lead, zinc, copper, chromium (Kazakhstan); lead, zinc, copper, gold, silver, etc. (Uzbekistan).

The chemical industry is concentrated on the production of mineral fertilizers. The exception is Kyrgyzstan, where the chemical industry has not been developed.

Mechanical engineering is developing rapidly. It is concentrated in Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, where cars, trucks and buses are produced.

Light and food industries are developed everywhere to one degree or another.

Agriculture plays a significant role in the economy of Central Asia. The leading place belongs to agriculture. The main areas of irrigated land are in Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan and Tajikistan, which are specialized in the production of industrial crops and mainly cotton. In turn, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan specialize in the production of grain crops. Grain growing is also developed in Uzbekistan.

In animal husbandry, sheep breeding occupies a leading position. To a greater extent, this applies to Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan. Cattle rearing is typical of suburban areas and densely populated oases.

For the last 3 years, the volume of GDP in US dollars has been falling for the leader of the region of Kazakhstan. This is due both to the depreciation of the national currency and problems in the economy of the republic. The second largest economy - Uzbekistan - on the contrary, is growing steadily.

If you look at GDP growth, you can see that Kazakhstan has the smallest volumes of growth, which is associated with the large volumes of this country, while small economies can achieve high growth more easily due to the “low base”.

If you look at GDP per capita, you can also see that the leaders are exporters Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan. Although Uzbekistan is also an oil exporter, its GDP per capita is lower due to both lower production and a larger population.

The inflation rate in the region is at a fairly high level. On average, by 6-7% in the period under review. It is also necessary to note the volatility of price dynamics. So in 2016 it was sudden jump prices rose in Kazakhstan and in the same period prices fell in Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan.

Leader in terms of volume foreign trade is Kazakhstan. Although in 2014-2016 there was a decline in this indicator due to the depreciation of the national currency against the dollar and the fall in prices for the main export commodity of Kazakhstan - oil. In second place in terms of foreign trade are quite industrialized Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan. At the same time, this indicator is the most stable in Uzbekistan (about 25 billion US dollars). The smallest volumes of foreign trade are observed in countries with less developed industry and economy in the region: Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan.

KAZAKHSTAN. Kazakhstan is the undoubted leader among other Central Asian countries in terms of development and economic power. In 2016, in terms of GDP, Kazakhstan ranked 56th among 191 countries. More than half of the total GDP of the Central Asian region falls on Kazakhstan. At the same time, the dynamics of GDP growth is lower than in other countries of the region due to a higher comparison base.

The Republic of Kazakhstan has significant deposits of mineral and energy resources - out of 110 elements of the periodic table, 99 have been identified in the bowels of the country, 70 have been explored, more than 60 are used, including 8% of the world's iron ore reserves and about 25% of uranium. The country has one of the most powerful oil and gas potentials in the Caspian zone - Kazakhstan accounts for about 3% of the world's oil reserves and 1.2% of natural gas, and the country continues to increase production and export of energy resources. Kazakhstan is also one of the main producers of wheat in the region.

UZBEKISTAN. Uzbekistan also has a significant natural and industrial potential based on reserves of natural gas (7.8 trillion m3), oil (1 million tons), copper, uranium, phosphorites, rare earth and precious metals. The republic holds the fourth place in the world in terms of gold reserves, and seventh in terms of its production.

Uzbekistan is one of the three leading countries in the world in the production and export of cotton, in addition, gold, uranium ore, mineral fertilizers, natural gas, textile and food industry products, metals, and cars are also exported. The amount of exports in 2010 amounted to more than 13 billion dollars, imports (mainly industrial products) - 8.8 billion dollars.

One of the main items of foreign exchange earnings in the economy of Uzbekistan is a powerful mineral resource base. In the city of Asaka, there is a large GM Uzbekistan plant for the production of cars under licenses from Daewoo and Chevrolet, in addition, the only aircraft building plant in Central Asia was opened in the country.

Among the current development priorities of Uzbekistan are ensuring sustainable and balanced growth rates, structuring and modernizing the economy, technical and technological renewal of its most important industries, further liberalization of tax policy; creation of maximum favorable conditions for private business and a consistent reduction in the presence of the state in the economy; attraction of foreign investments; expanding the scale of reforms in the banking and financial system and in public utilities. The focus is on the fuel and energy and gas and petrochemical complexes, energy, gold mining and non-ferrous metallurgy, chemical and textile industries, information and communication technologies.

TURKMENISTAN. Turkmenistan has an abundance of oil, gas, sulfur and potash. The main industries of Turkmenistan include the refining and processing of oil and natural gas; production of glass, fabrics (mainly cotton) and clothing; food industry.

Turkmenistan actively encourages interested foreign companies to participate in the development of gas fields on the shelf of the Caspian Sea - the current gas production rates in the republic should triple by 2030. In this regard, one of the most important events in Turkmenistan is the annual International Gas Congresses, demonstrating continuation by the current leadership of Turkmenistan of the course to reduce the level of foreign policy and foreign economic isolation of the country, which took place during the presidency of Saparmurat Niyazov.

This small country ranks 4th in the world in terms of natural gas reserves, having the second largest gas field (Southern Iolotan). There are also rich oil reserves. In addition to oil and gas, Turkmenistan has significant reserves of sulfur, iodine, bromine, mirabilite, lead, various raw materials for the construction and finishing industry.

The basis of the economy of Turkmenistan at present is the fuel and energy complex, which includes oil and gas production, as well as oil refining industries, it is they who bring the main foreign exchange earnings and form the basis of external trade.

According to various estimates (OPEC, the independent American agency EIA, the British oil giant BP), Turkmenistan produces about 200-260 thousand barrels of oil (28-36 thousand tons) daily and about 70 billion cubic meters of gas annually, being in terms of production at 11th place in the world.

Turkmenistan's plans for the further development of this industry are grandiose. Thus, according to the program for the development of the oil and gas industry of Turkmenistan for the period up to 2030, it is planned to increase oil production to 110 million tons by 2030, and natural gas to 250 billion cubic meters. meters per year.
To achieve these goals, the government of Turkmenistan is taking measures to attract National economy foreign investment. There is no official information about the exact amount of foreign investment in the country's economy. According to some media reports, the amount of foreign investment in the oil and gas industry in 2014 amounted to about 10 billion US dollars and continues to grow. It is quite possible that this is true, since Turkmenistan is indeed increasing the volume of oil and gas production from year to year.

Due to the fact that cotton growing is widespread in Turkmenistan, the textile industry is developed. There are enterprises of the chemical and metallurgical industries on the territory of the country, and the Caspian shipbuilding is also developing.

The agricultural sector of the economy is also developed in Turkmenistan. The leading agricultural sector is cotton growing, grain growing is also highly developed - the production of wheat and rice. There are farms engaged in horticulture, melon growing, and vegetable growing. Animal husbandry is represented mainly by horse breeding (Turkmenistan is the birthplace of the Akhal-Teke horses), sheep breeding and camel breeding, the production of cattle is less developed.

KYRGYZSTAN. The economy of the republic consists mainly of industry, the agricultural sector of the service sector, and less than half of the able-bodied population is employed in the service sector. In 2011, the volume of remittances from migrants amounted to 29% of the country's GDP. These are the dominant sectors providing employment and economic growth in the country.

The industry is represented by the energy and mining industries. In the 1990s, the republic experienced deindustrialization and a large recession even by Central Asian standards: the GDP of Kyrgyzstan in 1990-2001 decreased by 10.35 times (in neighboring Uzbekistan during the same period by 3.45 times).

A significant part of the products Agriculture goes for export. An important source of income for Kyrgyzstan is tourism.

Kyrgyzstan has huge reserves of antimony, mercury, lead, zinc and other precious metals, as well as significant hydropower resources.

TAJIKISTAN. The economy of Tajikistan is focused on agriculture, the country is rich in mineral resources (coal). In the structure of exports of Tajikistan, about 80% is occupied by raw materials and materials: aluminum, cotton, finished food products, precious and semi-precious metals and stones. Tajikistan has inexhaustible reserves of hydro resources, and also concentrated more than 55% of all water resources in the region.

During the years of independence, the structure of employment has changed significantly, the industrialization of the economy has taken place. Achieving the status of the country as an industrial-agrarian country will be ensured by the implementation of the National Development Strategy of the Republic of Tajikistan until 2030. Since 2000, there has been a steady economic growth of 5-7%. For the development of the economy, the government opened 4 SEZs and they are functioning well today. FEZ subjects are given a number of economic privileges. They are exempt from taxes and customs duties. All administrative barriers for the development of the SEZ have been removed. In 1991-2013, the share of people employed in agriculture decreased from 36% to 19%, while the share of people employed in industry increased from 21% to 51%, in construction it decreased from 8% to 3%, in the service sector from 35% to 27% .

The Tajik economy is vulnerable to external shocks due to a narrow export structure and high import dependence. High level labor migration. A fairly large proportion of the rural population lives in poverty.

The most significant sector of the Tajik economy is agriculture, which accounted for more than a quarter of GDP in 2015. Next (in descending order by contribution to GDP) are: industry, trade, transport, communications, services, construction and other industries.

Cotton is the main agricultural crop in Tajikistan; up to ninety percent of the harvested raw materials are exported. Tajikistan also grows cereals, vegetables, fruits, tobacco, potatoes, cattle breeding is developed.

The country has large reserves of silver, gold, iron, lead, antimony, coal, salt, precious stones, oil, and gas. Explored deposits provide raw materials for such industries as chemical, mining, metallurgical, machine-building.

The electric power industry is a very well-developed and promising industry, Tajikistan is a major exporter of electricity, and the country ranks eighth in the world in terms of hydropower reserves.

But still the largest and most significant industry is the light industry. There are many enterprises in Tajikistan that process agricultural raw materials: cotton, silk, as well as carpet weaving, clothing and knitting factories.

The main foreign trade partners of Tajikistan are Russia, China, Kazakhstan, Turkey. The CIS partner countries account for almost half of the total foreign trade turnover.

Just like in many other countries of the former USSR, labor migration is very common in Tajikistan. The bulk of labor migrants, and there are more than half a million of them in the country, are working in the Russian Federation. The money they transfer through remittances is a significant part of GDP.

Despite the fact that Tajikistan is a poor state, analysts give a very successful forecast for the further development of its economy. The main thing that can favorably affect the rate of economic growth is the integration of Tajikistan into the global economy. One of the ways of such integration is its entry into the Customs Union. In addition, analysts give favorable forecasts for the rise in prices for aluminum and cotton, which are the main export items in Tajikistan, which will bring additional revenues to the budget.

Farming, especially rural, will depend on the natural conditions of the territory. And the conditions of Asia are distinguished by great diversity and contrasts. The highest mountain ranges with steep slopes coexist with lowlands and the monotony of their flat relief. Large contrasts are also characteristic of the climate, especially for moisture. The low-lying areas are well supplied with moisture, because they are located in the monsoon climate - these are the eastern and southern parts of the region.

The western part of Foreign Asia lies in the region of the Mediterranean climate. $90\%$ of all arable land is concentrated in these parts of Asia. The central and southwestern parts are arid. The Asian part of the world lies in several climatic zones. The south of the territory lies in tropical latitudes and receives $2$ times more total solar radiation than the northern regions. Summer and winter temperatures on the islands of Indonesia are almost the same, average temperature January +$25$ degrees, and the north of Manchuria, for example, has a January temperature of -$24$, -$28$ degrees. Yes, the cold weather is long there. Significant climatic differences are also characteristic of mountainous regions and even within the mountainous territories themselves. This is due to the height of the mountains, their position, the exposure of the slopes. The circulation of the atmosphere has a very pronounced effect on the climate of East and South Asia, where the seasonal change of air masses is clearly expressed.

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Winters in these areas are characterized by the winter monsoon, while the summer monsoon operates in summer. All of East Asia, Hindustan and Indochina are in the monsoon circulation zone, where annual precipitation can reach $2000$ mm per year. Associated with the winter monsoon are cold continental air masses that cause cooling in East Asia and partly in the tropics of Northern Indochina.

In the southern part of Asia, winter cooling does not occur, because the territory is under the influence of the Indian monsoon, which has smaller baric gradients. On the other hand, India is closed in the north by the highest mountain ranges from the cold air masses of Central Asia. The interior regions of Asia, located at high altitudes and surrounded by mountains, have a sharply continental climate.

In winter, the Asian anticyclone dominates here and a severe and long winter sets in. At low temperatures, the soil freezes deeply, which leads to the formation of permafrost areas. In summer, the territory warms up well and a low temperature area is formed. atmospheric pressure. The weather is hot and dry. Precipitation is very small, high mountain ranges prevent their penetration. In closed basins, only up to $50$ mm falls out. But even this inland region has its own internal climatic differences. The reason for this lies in the different availability of thermal resources and thermal regime.

An exceptionally hot region is Southwest Asia. It receives the largest amount of solar radiation, therefore it is the driest part of the mainland. Deserts and semi-deserts are common here.

Remark 1

For the development of agriculture, a significant part of Asia Abroad has unfavorable climatic conditions. The equatorial regions are highly humid, while the vast plateaus and plains of Southwestern and Central Asia are too dry. Agriculture in these areas is possible only with land reclamation.

The location of agricultural production, the composition of cultivated plants, the peculiarities of farming methods, and the productivity of crops largely depend on climatic conditions. The level of agricultural development in the countries of Foreign Asia is relatively low, so the yield is highly dependent on weather conditions. Based on climatic features, several agro-climatic regions are distinguished in foreign Asia.

Mineral resources of Foreign Asia

The surface of Foreign Asia is represented by vast mountainous territories and lowlands, the areas of which are small. Low-lying areas are located on the outskirts of Asia - these are the eastern and southern coasts. Mineral deposits are associated with the relief and with the main tectonic regions, with which the bowels of Foreign Asia are rich. In terms of reserves of fuel and energy raw materials, Asia occupies a leading position in the world.

These are, first of all, huge deposits of coal, oil and gas. The bowels of this part of the world contain world reserves of tin, antimony, mercury, graphite, sulfur, muscovite, zirconium, phosphate raw materials, potassium salts, chromites, tungsten. True, from a geographical point of view, these resources are distributed unevenly. Coal, iron and manganese ores, non-metallic minerals were formed within the Chinese and Hindustan platforms. There is a copper belt along the Pacific coast. In the Alpine-Himalayan folded region, ores are predominant.

A decisive role in the international geographical division of labor in Asia is played by oil and gas reserves, which are the main wealth of the region. The main hydrocarbon deposits are concentrated in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Iraq, Iran, and the United Arab Emirates. Large oil fields have been discovered in the countries of the Malay Archipelago - Indonesia, Malaysia. There is oil and gas in Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan. The Dead Sea is known for its large salt reserves, and the Iranian Highlands for sulfur and non-ferrous metals.

Of all Asian countries, the greatest diversity and reserves of minerals are concentrated on the territory of the following states:

1. India;
2. Indonesia;
3. Iran;
4. Kazakhstan;
5. Turkey;
6. Saudi Arabia.

Remark 2

Those mineral deposits that are well known today do not reflect the true picture of the richness of the subsoil of this region. The ongoing prospecting works open up new deposits of mineral raw materials. In terms of hydrocarbon production, offshore zones are becoming promising, which provide the extractive industry with new opportunities.

Different subregions of Asia have their own set of minerals.

Western Asia. Here, the focus is primarily largest deposits oil and gas, in terms of reserves of which Western Asia is the leader among other regions of the world. According to $1980 data, there are $43 billion tons of oil in this area and more than $20 trillion. cube m of gas. Coal reserves are more than $23 billion tons. The reserves of ferrous metal ores amount to $14 billion tons and they are located on the territory of Turkey and Iraq. Reserves of titanium ores in Saudi Arabia and chromium ores in Turkey and Iran, Afghanistan and Oman. Nonmetallic Construction Materials are represented by gypsum, the reserves of which amount to $3 billion tons. AT selected countries the region has deposits of precious and ornamental stones, for example, Iranian turquoise, Afghan lapis lazuli, ruby, emerald, rock crystal, aquamarine, marble onyx.

South Asia. She holds a leading position in the reserves of muscovite, barite, titanium, pyrite, beryl, graphite, iron, manganese ores. This part also has significant reserves of oil and gas, as well as gold, copper, nickel, and tungsten ores. The most important energy raw material for South Asia is hard coal, whose reserves are estimated at $115 billion tons. The total iron ore reserves are over $13.5 billion tons. They are concentrated in India, Pakistan. There are small reserves in Sri Lanka and Nepal. The extraction of manganese ores has long been going on in India. There are aluminum and nickel ores in this region. Here is about $30\%$ of the total reserves of mining and chemical raw materials - India, Pakistan, Nepal. Non-metallic raw materials are represented by Indian asbestos - India, gypsum - Pakistan, graphite - Sri Lanka. There are quartz, building sands, dolomites, limestone and marble. Precious stones are only in India - diamonds.

Southeast Asia. In terms of tin reserves, the region ranks $1 in the world and has significant reserves of nickel, cobalt, tungsten, copper, antimony, and barite. In addition, there are oil, gas, bauxites, chromites and others. mineral resources. Exploration for hydrocarbons is being carried out on the continental shelf. Of the $36$ promising basins, $25$ belong to Indonesia. Hard coals are also found in Indonesia and Vietnam. Ore minerals, the reserves of which amount to more than $1271 million tons, are found in Burma, Indonesia, the Philippines, Kampuchea. Of the ores of non-ferrous metals, aluminum and copper ores are known - Indonesia, Vietnam, Kampuchea.

Other types of resources of Foreign Asia

Foreign Asia is rich in its superficial waters, but water resources are unevenly distributed over the territory, and the availability decreases from the southeast to the northwest. Water resources are used, usually for irrigation, which helps to solve the problems associated with drought, soil salinization and wind blowing. In India, for example, $95\%$ of consumed fresh water goes to irrigation. Mountain rivers contain colossal reserves of hydropower, which is best provided in the humid tropics. Due to the economic backwardness of the mountainous regions, the hydro potential of the rivers is poorly used. For example, the hydro potential of the rivers of India and Pakistan is used by about $10\%$. Large Asian rivers have basins covering hundreds of thousands of square kilometers. They are among the most important types of natural resources.

Another type of resource is soil. The huge size, diverse relief and climate were the conditions for the formation of a complex soil cover. Podzolic, sulfur and brown forest soils have formed in the temperate climate zone. In the steppe regions - chernozem-like and chestnut soils. In the subtropics of the Mediterranean, brown soils are dominant, and in the monsoon regions, yellow and red soils. Peculiar tropical soils - regura or black soils formed on the Hindustan peninsula.

If speak about forest resources, foreign Asia is not rich in them. There is only $0.3$ ha of forest resources per capita, and the average world level is $1.2$ ha per person. Low availability of forest resources is typical for India, Pakistan, Lebanon, and Singapore. The south-east of the region is best provided with forest resources. Here, the areas of forest resources are not only large, but also accessible, which threatens their existence.

recreational the resources of the region began to be studied and used only in the second half of the $XX$ century. Attractive for tourists are the warm seas of Southwest Asia - Turkey and Southeast Asia - Thailand, Malaysia.

natural conditions. Mostly they are relatively favorable, but in some places there is also a negative impact. Most of the Asian part of Russia (2/3) are regions of the far north and permafrost. In Central Asia, vast areas are occupied by semi-deserts and deserts, unsuitable for life and management.

The territory of the region is predominantly located on a hill. Mountain ranges and plateaus occupy 3/4 of its territory. The largest mountain areas surrounding the east (Chukotka and Koryak highlands, the Central Siberian plateau, Sikhote-Alin, Verkhoyansky ridge, etc.) and the south of the region (Tien Shan, Pamir, Altai, the Kazakh upland plateau). The high-mountain massif of the Pamir region (the highest point is Communism Peak, 7495 m), which is an epiplatform mountain of the Cenozoic folding of the Alpine-Himalayan geosynclinal belt. The largest orographic unit in Eastern Siberia is the Central Siberian Plateau, which is characterized by the alternation of wide plateaus and ridges (Yenisei ridge, Vilyuisbke plateau, higher in height (1701 m) than the Putorana plateau). Many areas are covered with permafrost. More than 7,000 glaciers with a total area of ​​about 20,000 km2 have been registered in the mountains of Central Asia. Characterized by high seismicity, which sometimes reaches 8-9 points on the Richter scale.

Plains are of alluvial and accumulative origin, located mainly in river valleys and near sea coasts. The western lowland is one of the largest low-lying accumulative plains of the globe. Its area reaches 3 million km2. The surface is weakly dissected, with small height amplitudes (from 50 to 300 m). Wide flat interfluves, composed of moraine hills and ridges, predominate. In the southern part there are many depressions, in the place of which large lakes sometimes form. The middle part of the plain is dissected by slow rivers, stagnant water is rich on flat watersheds. This is the reason for the large waterlogging and the presence of peat, especially in Vasyugan. Marshes cover approximately 20-25% of the lowland area. In the southern part of the region there is a large Turan lowland (plain), which is characterized by the alternation of accumulative lowlands and plains with table plateaus (total - Ustyurt). On the surface of the plain, wormwood-saltwort, psamophytnia and ephemeral deserts predominate, they are used as pastures.

Climatic conditions are varied, due to the latitudinal zonality. The climate of the Asian part of Russia is severe, continental (in the Far East it is close to monsoonal). Winter is very long, summer is comparatively short. Precipitation falls mainly in summer (300-500 mm). In Central Asia, the temperatures of day and night, summer and winter, are especially contrasting, the actual continental type of climate.

The north of the region has a wide hydrographic network, which belongs mainly to river systems Ob - Irtysh, Yenisei - Angara, Lena, Amur, Yana, etc. Rivers are important communication routes and a source of water supply. Water resources of Siberia and Far East make up about 10% of the world's fresh water. Many major year navigable along the entire length. Central Asia is rich in groundwater, a significant amount of which is spent on feeding surface runoff, meeting the needs of the population and moistening pastures.

There are tens of thousands of lakes in Siberia. Here is a unique natural formation - Lake Baikal, the volume of water in which is 23 thousand km2 (almost 1/5 of the world's fresh water reserves). Baikal is the deepest (up to 1620 m) continental water body on earth's surface. This is a natural laboratory where you can study the laws of evolution of aquatic organisms, the formation of freshwater fauna.

Some areas of Central Asia have favorable agro-climatic conditions (especially for growing some subtropical crops: cotton, melons, fruit trees).

Natural resources. The wealth of the region is a variety of mineral resources represented by coal in Russia (Kuznetsk basin (Kuzbass), South Yakutsk basin, promising Lena and Tunguska basins), brown coal in Russia (Kansk-Achinsk basin in Eastern Siberia), oil (southern regions of Western Siberia, the north of Sakhalin in Russia, the Mangyshlak peninsula in Kazakhstan, the Turkmen coast of the Caspian Sea), gas (the north of Western Siberia and Sakhalin in Russia, the Gazli field in Uzbekistan, the eastern regions of Turkmenistan), etc.

The region is rich in ore minerals: iron ore (Altai and Angarsk deposits in Russia, northwest Kazakhstan), manganese (Dzhezdy deposit in Kazakhstan), chromium (northwest Kazakhstan), copper (deposits (Dzhezkazgan and Balkhash in Kazakhstan, Norilsk in Russia), nickel (complex Norilsk deposit), polymetals (Altai), tin (Far East), gold (Siberia and the Far East in Russia, Kyrgyzstan), mercury (in the Tien Shan mountains in Kyrgyzstan).

Non-metallic minerals are represented by phosphorites (Zhambyl deposit in Kazakhstan), mirabilite (Kara-Bogaz-Gol Bay in Turkmenistan), diamonds (Mirny city in Yakutia).

Potential hydropower resources are estimated at 1900 billion kWh - the energy of sea tides. In Central Asia, the limited water reserves led to the creation of a wide network of irrigation facilities, through which the regulation of the runoff is carried out. For the purpose of irrigation, more than 30 large reservoirs (more than 100 million m3 each) and many main irrigation canals have been built, including Chui, Northern and Big Fergana, Amu-Bukhara, Karshun, Gissar, etc. The unique Karakum canal (1200 km long) was built in 1954 and extends through the southern part of the Karakum desert.

The forests of the Asian part of Russia consist mainly of coniferous species - pine, fir, cedar, spruce, larch, Manchurian walnut, birch and other deciduous species are common in the south. The forested area is 70% of the district area. The total timber reserves are estimated at 74 billion m3. The forests of Siberia and the Far East are rich not only in timber, but up to 150 species of game animals live in them, including such valuable ones as sable, ermine, squirrel, industrial birds, various valuable medicinal plants(famous ginseng), nuts, mushrooms, berries. In Kazakhstan, a lot of forests (9 million hectares) fall on saxaul forests. The average forest cover of the countries of Central Asia is only 5%.

The Far Eastern sea basin is rich in fish (up to 20 species: sardine-ivasi, mackerel, salmon, saury, herring, greenling, etc.) and seafood, of which crabs, shrimps, squids, scallops, sea kale, etc. are intensively used.

The development of the economy of the countries of the region is primarily due to their huge natural resource potential - one of the largest in the world. No wonder Russia and Kazakhstan are called the "geological pantries" of the world.