Dear compatriots, dear deputies of Oliy Majlis!
Dear guests!
It gives me great pleasure in addressing you, the deputies of the Legislative Chamber and members of the Senate, and through you to all our people, to express my sincere gratitude to all compatriots who have high confidence in me by electing the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan.
Take this opportunity I express you, my dear, my high respect and esteem, I wish you health, happiness and prosperity.
Confidence in me I consider primarily as a great responsibility and a great honor, and once again I want to assure – I will put all my strength, dedicate my life to justify such a high, incomparable people’s trust.
Dear friends!
We completely abandon the old, the obsolete totalitarian regime and becoming masters of our own destiny, have set before ourselves important objectives such as the construction of a new, democratic state and civil society, free to anyone and in no way inferior, prosperous life. Today, as a result of large-scale changes and reforms being implemented consistently by us in this way, we have achieved such great success and high goals, which no one can deny.
The most important factor of all our achievements, of course, became our evolutionary and incremental development path of Uzbekistan selected by us, based on five principles known and recognized throughout the world as the “Uzbek model” of reforms, and today life itself proves how correct is this way.
On the advantages and effectiveness of our model of development evidenced by the fact that it fully takes into account the natural, historical, national, demographic and environmental features characteristic of Uzbekistan, and it is fully justified itself in practice.
For example, if we talk about agriculture, we have given priority to the development of farmers’ movement, based on the lease land, have actively supported this process, and thanks to all of this farmers’ movement, it is safe to say, leave a bright trace in our recent history. Today, our farmers not only produce 90-92 % of the country’s agricultural production, but also become more and more social and political movement, taking the responsibility for the development and future of our village.
Or if you take a small business and private entrepreneurship, it is now in this area produced 56 percent of gross domestic product and employs 75-77 percent of the total employed population.
Of course, our achievements, as reflected in such vivid terms and figures, will provide a powerful impetus towards deepening the reforms implemented by us, a solid foundation of tomorrow and the future development of the country.
Today, we have every reason to say – exactly due to the implementation of these reforms, we provide sustainable growth in the economy of Uzbekistan. In the last 10 years, the rate of growth of gross domestic product annually exceed 8 percent. Given the fact that, according to our calculations, in the current, 2015, these rates will remain at the same level, I think everything is even more evident.
In this regard, we can not say that at the heart of all our great successes primarily lies a fundamental change in consciousness and thinking, the growth of political and legal culture of our people, our selfless and courageous people, has seen a lot in his lifetime. The main thing is the most reliable support for us is our youth, surely part of life as a decisive force, possessing modern knowledge and professions independently and re-thinking, the ability to take responsibility for the future of the country.
However, I would like all of us do not forget one important truth.
If we are satisfied with the progress and frontiers, addict to the self-complacency and euphoria, we can make the biggest, I must say, unforgivable mistake.
We all know that the world is developing, does not stand still, especially when you consider that we live in the XXI century – century of intellectual labor, the Internet and globalization, and rapidly changing time constantly reminds us of this.
Continuing on a global scale financial-economic crisis, competition and confrontation becoming more severe, such threats and challenges, as radicalism, terrorism and extremism are intensifying, require from all of us, above all, a greater cohesion, further mobilization of our forces and capabilities.
Of course, in the framework of the ongoing great work before us today the most urgent task is to speed up and improve the efficiency of democratic reforms, which radically changing our lives.
When we talk about this, of particular importance to us is the removal of the remaining totalitarian regime stereotypes, solving of a variety of current problems, the consistent implementation of the adopted laws and further deepening of the reforms.
First of all, we have to raise to a new, higher level of reform in the field of freedom of expression and information, human rights and freedoms, to further improve the legal system, the development of civil society, and it should be noted that in these areas there is still a lot to do.
It’s no secret that if we do not ensure the competitiveness of our economy, i.e. modernizing and diversifying the industrial areas and spheres, their technical and technological renewal, the global market, and tomorrow – the domestic market will also not accept our products.
We all should be well aware of this truth.
Therefore, if we care about tomorrow, our future, we must openly admit that without further deepening wide-ranging reforms, being implemented in our economy, especially structural reforms, without deciding the question of its rise to a new, modern level, it is impossible to talk about achieving our most important goal – to enter the number of advanced democracies.
A key task for us is to remove all barriers and constraints to the development of private property and private enterprise, which are as enshrined in our Constitution, a priority area of diversified economy.
It must be emphasized that in the past years we have carried out a lot of work and continue to provide a solid legal framework and reliable safeguards to protect private property and private property owners, including the provision of benefits and preferences to small businesses and private entrepreneurship.
However, despite all the well-known benefits of private ownership as compared to the state, the work carried out in this area, unfortunately, was not able to completely solve the problem of providing the necessary freedom to private owners, and not giving the expected results.
That is why we must reduce to strategically and economically reasonable size and the level of the share of state presence in the economy.
Another challenge before us – we must abandon all forms of still existing administrative-command system, clear division of tasks and powers between public authorities, business and the private sector, go to the exchange system of trading operations, with the exception of retail trade.
Along with this, there should also be made appropriate adjustments in our corporate activities or joint stock association taking into account the experience of leading foreign firms and companies.
Our experience has shown that in Uzbekistan the most efficient, optimal and justifying itself is such an option, when the owners of the shares are also foreign investors in addition to domestic ones. It’s advantage lies in the fact that foreign shareholders – founders, in addition to equipping joint venture with high-tech equipment, also implement modern methods of organization and management.
In this regard, I want to reiterate that we are open for further development of cooperation with foreign countries and companies, we are ready to create new, broader conditions and opportunities for this.
Consistent deepening of ongoing fundamental reforms, planned for 2015 and beyond, maintaining stable economic growth will undoubtedly serve to a qualitative improvement in the structure of government and a significant increase in the competitiveness of our economy, gaining by Uzbekistan its rightful place on the world stage.
Dear friends, compatriots!
I consider it necessary to dwell on one very important issue, which is certainly of concern to all of us.
We live in troubled, increasingly tense time when amplified various threats and challenges that may lead to unpredictable consequences.
Given all this, in order to preserve peace and tranquility and prosperity of our people prevailing today in our country, the integrity of our borders, we must consider as our primary objective – the further strengthening of friendly relations and mutually beneficial cooperation with the countries of near and far abroad.
I consider it my duty to reiterate – Uzbekistan never join to any military-political blocs, will not allow the deployment of foreign military bases on its territory, staying of our soldiers abroad.
In the current difficult situation today around us, we believe exactly such a position, such a policy most correct for ourselves, the only true. As I said earlier, our people, first of all, need peace and tranquility, and we have to fight for it.
Taking this opportunity, allow me, on my behalf and on behalf of all our people to express my deep gratitude to our supporters who provide assistance, foreign states and international organizations, which strengthen friendly relations and mutually beneficial cooperation with us, their representatives, all foreign guests present here today.
I express my sincere gratitude to the heads of state, political and public figures, to send their congratulations on the election of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan me.
Again and again I bow to my people, which provided me such a high confidence.
Faithfully and selflessly, with filial love to serve our noble and generous people – is truly a great honor and a great happiness for me.
I wish all of you, my dear, peace and prosperity, success and good luck!