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Turkmenistan
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FactsBackground: Eastern Turkmenistan for centuries formed part of the Persian province of Khurasan; in medieval times Merv (today known as Mary) was one of the great cities of the Islamic world and an important stop on the Silk Road. Annexed by Russia between 1865 and 1885, Turkmenistan became a Soviet republic in 1924. It achieved independence upon the dissolution of the USSR in 1991. Extensive hydrocarbon/natural gas reserves could prove a boon to this underdeveloped country once extraction and delivery projects are expanded. The Turkmen Government is actively working to diversify its gas export routes beyond the still dominant Russian pipeline network. In 2010, new gas export pipelines that carry Turkmen gas to China and to northern Iran began operating, effectively ending the Russian monopoly on Turkmen gas exports. President for Life Saparmurat NYYAZOW died in December 2006, and Turkmenistan held its first multi-candidate presidential election in February 2007. Gurbanguly BERDIMUHAMEDOW, a deputy cabinet chairman under NYYAZOW, emerged as the country's new president. note: data are in 2010 US dollars GDP (official exchange rate): $27.96 billion (2010 est.); GDP - real growth rate: 11% (2010 est.); 6.1% (2009 est.); 10.5% (2008 est.); GDP - per capita (PPP): $7,400 (2010 est.); $6,800 (2009 est.); $6,400 (2008 est.); note: data are in 2010 US dollars GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 10.2%; industry: 30%; services: 59.8% (2010 est.); Population below poverty line: 30% (2004 est.); Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 2.6%; highest 10%: 31.7% (1998); Labor force: 2.3 million (2008 est.); Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 48.2%; industry: 14%; services: 37.8% (2004 est.); Unemployment rate: 60% (2004 est.); Budget: revenues: $1.97 billion; expenditures: $1.878 billion (2010 est.); Industries: natural gas, oil, petroleum products, textiles, food processing; Industrial production growth rate: 7.3% (2010 est.); Electricity - production: 15.5 billion kWh (2009 est.); Electricity - consumption: 13 billion kWh (2009 est.); Electricity - exports: 2.5 billion kWh (2009 est.); Electricity - imports: 0 kWh (2009 est.); Statistics: CIA World Factbook. Turkmenistan in the NewsA Bargain in TurkmenistanThe dictator is dead, but you’d never know: his portrait dominates the capital, and people still instinctively whisper when they speak. |
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