The increased public social spending, the ongoing State-led investments in the development of the hydrocarbons sector, as well as the Government’s initiatives to diversify the economy through helping the manufacturing and construction sectors contributed to job creation and helped somewhat in boosting domestic demand and avoiding a rapid slowdown in economic growth. Gold production, accounting for nearly half of industrial production, was hindered due to a combination of difficult weather conditions and labour strikes at the Kumtor gold mine, the largest mining site in the country. Output of the manufacturing sector also fell, which led to a slowing of exports. On the positive side, remittance growth rebounded strongly, supported by the steady economic expansion of the Russian Federation.