Karimov was re-elected with 88.1% of the vote to continue to lead the Central Asian country of 28 million people, according to preliminary results released on Monday. Authorities put voter turnout at 90.6%.

Landlocked Uzbekistan, which borders Afghanistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan, is rich in natural gas and oil reserves and boasts the world’s second largest cotton exporter. Gold is another major export earner.

However, underdeveloped manufacturing and processing industries dragged Uzbekistan, a former Soviet republic, into a period of declining gross domestic product (GDP) since declaring independence in 1991.

Karimov, 69, who was elected president in 1991 and re-elected in 2000, has been pressing ahead withreforms that prioritized economic growth, introduced macroeconomic controls and enhanced the rule of law.

As a result, the country’s GDP in the first nine months of this year grew 9.8% year-on-year by official count and is expected to keep on growing next year.

On his campaign platform, Karimov, who advocates boosting medium- and small-sized businesses, the private sector and farms, offered tax preferences for these businesses and pledged to protect their interests.

A young tax driver polled by Xinhua in the capital Tashkent said Karimov "kept the country stable and encouraged medium- and small-sized businesses."

"That created many opportunities for those out of work. Nowadays, anyone who works hard can live a good life," the driver said.

"I think Karimov is the best choice for the presidency. He’s unrivaled, so I voted for him," he said.

BENEFITS FOR YOUNG POPULACE

Uzbekistan, the most populous nation in Central Asia, has a relatively young population with 64%% people under the age of 30. Young families account for 16% of the total in the country.

As part of government support for the younger generation, the country has provided freshmen at colleges with free textbooks and daily necessities. Banks have provided preferential loans for young people to buy houses or start their own businesses.

Polls show nearly 80% of young Uzbeks are satisfied with their life and more than half of them are optimistic about their future.

Karimov pledged to boost income and welfare for his people. He vowed to more than double wages in the next three years. In the first three quarters of this year, Uzbeks’ wages grew 49% and real income rose 22%.

FOREIGN POLICY

Karimov told reporters after casting his ballot in Tashkent on Sunday that Uzbekistan always maintains that any country, big or small, rich or poor, should develop relations on the basis of mutual respect and benefit.

Every nation has its own tradition and its own pride and Uzbekistan wishes to develop ties with other countries on an equal footing, Karimov said.