Inflation has exceeded the central bank’s 3 percent target for several months. Annual price growth was 12.3 percent in September, down from a record high of 12.8 percent in August.

The loan will finance two residential complexes, providing over 3,700 affordable and energy-efficient apartments for people on low- to middle-incomes.

With increasing government expenditures post-pandemic, Nurmagambetov's idea also attracted attention from the U.S. federal government.

Mirziyoyev faced four rivals, but the issue was never in doubt in a contest described by monitors from the OSCE as offering voters few opportunities to see any interaction between the candidates.