New agricultural parks, industrial zones to appear in country
By Rashid Shirinov
Up to 20 agricultural parks are planned to be built in Azerbaijan with a view to increase exports of agriculture products and entering new markets.
Economy Minister Shahin Mustafayev emphasized that creation of agricultural parks is important for strengthening food security, import substitution and increase of Azerbaijan’s export potential.
The minister, addressing the meeting on October 13, stated that for this end, the ministry will determine places to construct agro-parks and needed infrastructure.
Currently, the establishment of agro-parks nears completion in Shamkir and Yalama, which will allow to expand domestic supply and support the exports.
Mustafayev noted that the first stage of creation of the Yalama Agro Park has already completed. The park will extend on an area of 523 hectares. The second stage stipulates construction of a milk processing plant with a capacity of 100 tons per day. The goods of the plant, including butter, dry milk and cheese, will be produced both for domestic and export.
As for the Shamkir Agro Park, the work on the first phase of its construction is in progress. In particular, logistics centre with a capacity of 26,000 tons and large farms are being created there.
Azerbaijan's agricultural sector plays an important role in providing the 9.6-million population's food security in a best way and increasing the country's export potential.
The country, with its advantageous climatic conditions and good opportunities to develop agrarian sector, has defined the establishment of agro-parks among its priorities to boost the agriculture development.
Industry
Furthermore, Shahin Mustafayev announced that new industrial zones may be established in Ganja and Agstafa cities of Azerbaijan.
Work on the feasibility study of the possible industrial zones in these cities will be completed within three months, he mentioned.
Industrial parks have been so far created several regions of the country. The country also provides favorable conditions for other countries to participate in the industrial parks
. The government has made certain changes to the legislature in order to ensure further development of the concept of industrial parks and districts. Import of goods by the industrial park residents is exempt of customs duties for a term of five years, while foreign residents of industrial parks are exempt from payments for compulsory social insurance as well as the equipment and technologies used in industrial parks is also exempt from value added tax.
The minister also informed about the already functioning industrial parks, mentioning that construction of internal roads, vocational training centre, laying of power lines and installation of electric substation is underway at the Sumgayit chemical-industrial park. Moreover, the work is underway to attract new residents to the park.
Mustafayev said that enterprises at the Balakhani industrial park will start operating until the end of the year, while work on the organization of the Mingachevir industrial park, specializing in light industry, is underway.
As for the Pirallahi industrial park, he stated that preparatory works for its establishment are currently underwear.
The park is planned to produce more than 100 kinds of pharmaceutical products in future.
Meanwhile, the Neftchala industrial district is already provided with all needed infrastructure, and currently, work on creation of the Azerbaijani-Iranian automobile factory is implemented there.
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Rashid Shirinov is AzerNews’ staff journalist, follow him on Twitter: @RashidShirinov
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