Dear fellow countrymen! Dear friends! Accept my sincerest and heartiest congratulations on the coming new year 2008. In these exciting minutes prior to the New Year, each of us, having gathered around the festive table, unintentionally recalls the unforgettable events, troubles and happy moments of the outgoing year.

2007 was successful

Today, summing up the outgoing year, we have every reason to say that the year, in many respects, was successful for us and is etched in the life of the country and society. Thanks to selfless creative work of our people, a big step has been taken to ensure the dynamic development of the country and its economy, improvement in the living standards and well-being of people, progress on the path of the democratic renewal, and the strengthening of Uzbekistan’s prestige in the world community.

Above all, the following figures testify to this: the country’s GDP increased by 9.5 per cent in 2007; the industrial growth rate - 12.1 [per cent]; agriculture - 6.1 per cent; exports increased over 1.4 fold, gold and foreign currency reserves - over 50 per cent; real salaries, pensions, stipends and social benefits - 40 per cent. At the same time, the inflation [rate] or an increase in prices did not exceed 6.8 per cent.

Laws, which are aimed at further stepping up and promoting reforms, democratizing and liberalizing almost all aspects of our country’s life, were adopted and are being successfully implemented today.

The measures taken in our country in connection with declaring 2007 the Year of Social Protection deserve the most serious attention. The all-round and substantial support in the spirit of the best traditions of humanity, which was provided, above all, to poor people and families, lonely pensioners and the disabled, as well as charity homes at the expense of state and sponsorship funds, once again confirmed that the atmosphere of kindness and mutual respect, mercy and generosity was becoming stronger in our life. This is another vivid evidence of the positive changes taking place in the consciousness, outlook and attitude of people and our society as a whole.

Presidential polls

Dear friends! The recent presidential election held in our country, which was an important political test for us, served as a big experience and a new stage in building a free democratic state and civil society in Uzbekistan, where the most important values are human’s interests and rights.

This election, which was held in accordance with the principles of democracy, transparency and openness, with no doubt, further united our people, vividly demonstrating their improved political and legal culture, the hopes and aspirations of each Uzbek citizen, his faith in the country’s future, and became a really historic event in society’s life.

Taking this opportunity, I regard as my duty to bow low to our people, to express, from the bottom of my heart, great gratitude to everybody who strongly believed in me. I have no other aim in my life than to faithfully and loyally serve You, my people.

Speaking about what is waiting for us in the new year, I would like to especially stress our most important priorities. Our main aim is to ensure high economic growth rates and improvement in people’s well-being, and the strengthening of stability in our country by intensifying and increasing the effectiveness of reforms, widely attracting investments and modern technologies to our country, creating necessary conditions and preferences for the development of, above all, small business, farming and private entrepreneurship which are the main driving force for us.

Based on the set aim to increase salaries not less than two-fold in 2007-2009, our main objective in the new year will be gradually increasing salaries, pensions, stipends and social benefits.