President Aliyev lauds rural growth achievements
Ongoing progress in implementing the state program
on socio-economic development, particularly in rural regions of
Azerbaijan, was discussed in Baku on Monday at a conference
presided over by President Ilham Aliyev.
At the conference, government officials and representatives from local executive bodies spoke about the work that was performed to boost rural development in the fast-growing South Caucasus republic from 2004-2008.
In his remarks, President Aliyev said that the development program has been completed ahead of time and a number of achievements have been made. Azerbaijan has accomplished a great deal in terms of economic growth, and the measures taken in the past five years have eliminated some problems typically seen in rural areas.
"Our goal is for Azerbaijan to develop rapidly in the coming years as well, and for the country`s economy not to rely on revenues only from the oil and gas industries. First of all, suitable conditions have to be provided for the people to live well and the main goal of the program carried out in 2004-2008 remained at the core of that. This program served to improve the infrastructure on one hand, and was aimed at opening jobs and ensuring social welfare of citizens on the other."
Aliyev said the Azerbaijani economy has grown 2.6 times and 760,000 jobs have been opened in the country, including 547,000 permanent positions, in the past five years. The poverty level has decreased to 13.2% from 49%. Azerbaijan`s currency reserves have exceeded $18 billion and the share of the private sector in the national economy has reached 85%. The minimum wage has increased 8.3 times and the minimum pension has quadrupled in the five-year period. 85% of the country has been supplied with gas with the figure to reach 93% in the near future, the president pledged.
Aliyev said boosting the development of the country`s non-oil sector was a key objective for his government, adding that certain achievements had already been made to that end.
Also, the president noted that energy security has been a top priority during this period.
He added that the program on socio-economic development of the regions would be continued during the next five years.
At the conference, government officials and representatives from local executive bodies spoke about the work that was performed to boost rural development in the fast-growing South Caucasus republic from 2004-2008.
In his remarks, President Aliyev said that the development program has been completed ahead of time and a number of achievements have been made. Azerbaijan has accomplished a great deal in terms of economic growth, and the measures taken in the past five years have eliminated some problems typically seen in rural areas.
"Our goal is for Azerbaijan to develop rapidly in the coming years as well, and for the country`s economy not to rely on revenues only from the oil and gas industries. First of all, suitable conditions have to be provided for the people to live well and the main goal of the program carried out in 2004-2008 remained at the core of that. This program served to improve the infrastructure on one hand, and was aimed at opening jobs and ensuring social welfare of citizens on the other."
Aliyev said the Azerbaijani economy has grown 2.6 times and 760,000 jobs have been opened in the country, including 547,000 permanent positions, in the past five years. The poverty level has decreased to 13.2% from 49%. Azerbaijan`s currency reserves have exceeded $18 billion and the share of the private sector in the national economy has reached 85%. The minimum wage has increased 8.3 times and the minimum pension has quadrupled in the five-year period. 85% of the country has been supplied with gas with the figure to reach 93% in the near future, the president pledged.
Aliyev said boosting the development of the country`s non-oil sector was a key objective for his government, adding that certain achievements had already been made to that end.
Also, the president noted that energy security has been a top priority during this period.
He added that the program on socio-economic development of the regions would be continued during the next five years.
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