Caspian Sea: State of the Environment 2019

the most to economic growth in 2014 with 37 per cent, followed by the construction sector with 14 per cent. Since 2014, the Azerbaijan has been cat- egorized as a high-middle-income country (Na- tional Contribution). Despite the global economic downturn of hydro- carbon demand and prices, Azerbaijan remained comparatively buoyant, with its GDP experienc- ing a 3.2-fold increase between 2003 and 2013 to reach US$74.164 billion. Following the adoption of the “Azerbaijan 2020: A Look into the Future” concept for the implementation of the path set out in the development strategy, the country focused on economic diversity and inclusive growth, institutional capacity development and effective governance, as well as environmental degradation and vulnerability to natural disas- ters (Azerbaijan, State Statistical Committee of the Republic of Azerbaijan 2017). The Caspian coast of Iran has some unique char- acteristics and unlike some of the other Caspian littoral states, has not used the Caspian Sea as its primary source for oil and gas resources. Instead, the Iranian coast has a larger and more established tourism industry, with more secondary homes, that are used on a seasonal basis. In 2016, the World Bank (2017a) reported an annual growth rate of 13.4 per cent compared with a 1.3 per cent decrease the year before. The growth was largely boosted by the industry sector (25 per cent), pri- marily due to the 62 per cent growth in oil and gas production as a result of sanctions relief. Non- oil GDP grew at 3.3 per cent and although it was lower than the oil sector, still reported the highest growth since 2011 (World Bank 2017a). In 2017, the gross regional product (GRP) was US$17.5 billion for Atyrau Region (growth rate of 112.9 per cent on 2015) and US$7.8 billion for Mangystau Region (growth rate of 100.1 per cent). GRP per capita amounted to US$29,800 and US$12,500 respectively, with an average of US$8,800 for the Republic of Kazakhstan. Invest- ments in Mangystau and Atyrau totalled more than US$8.9 billion. In 2016, the Aktau International Sea Trade Port and ferry complex in the Kuryk Port were ex- panded. In 2018, the 897 km-long Atyrau-Aktau

Republican highway was put into operation and the reconstruction of the Zhetybai-Zhanaozen (73 km) and Beyneu-Uzbekistan border (85 km) Republican roads was also started. The “Concept of Tourism Industry Development of the Repub- lic of Kazakhstan until 2023” envisages the de- velopment of some established tourist clusters in western Kazakhstan (Official Internet Resource of Akimat of Mangystau Region 2018).

GDP in 2006-2016

Billion US Dollars

2 500

2 000

1 500

1 000

500

0

2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016

Azerbaijan

Iran

Kazakhstan

Turkmenistan

Russia

GDP per capita in 2006-2016

10.0 12.5 15.0 17.5 Thousand US Dollars

2.5 5.0 7.5

2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 Azerbaijan Iran Kazakhstan Turkmenistan Russia 0

GDP by sector in 2016

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100% Azerbaijan Iran Kazakhstan Russia Turkmenistan

Agriculture, hunting, forestry, fishing Mining, Manufacturing, Utilities Manufacturing Construction Wholesale, retail trade, restaurants and hotels Transport, storage and communication Others

Graphs by Manana Kurtubadze, GRID-Arendal, April 2018. Sources: Azstat; UNSD; WB-WDI.

Figure 3.2: GDP of the Caspian littoral states in 2006–2016

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