President Islam Karimov said that the average salary has increased 14 times in the reporting period and the population’s total income in real terms grew about nine times.

“Clear evidence of sustained and stable economic development of our country is the fact that Uzbekistan is one of the few countries in the world, the negative impact of the ongoing global financial and economic crisis notwithstanding, who have been able to maintain steady pace of development. In the last 5 years, GDP average growth makes 8.5 percent, and it is expected this year that the current level will be preserved,” President said.

“However, over the years of independence, public expenditures on social sphere rose more than fivefold, while about 60 percent of the budget goes to health, education, municipal services, social security and other sectors every year. Not common in the world, these figures clearly show that our fundamental goal is the human life, welfare and protection of their interests.”

“Here is another notable fact: for twenty years, infant and maternal mortality in the country has declined by more than threefold, average life expectancy has increased by 7 years, among men, it reached 73, among women – 75 years, the country’s population currently stands at 28.5 million people,” the Uzbek leader said.