Azernews.Az

By Amina Nazarli

A conference on the development of cotton-growing in Azerbaijan was held in the country’s Saatli region on March 28 with the participation of President Ilham Aliyev.

Cotton production, once considered to be a key culture for the rural areas of the country, now gets a chance to revive, following considerable decline observed over the past few years.

"We invested, and we will invest hundreds of millions of dollars in the development of cotton growing, said President Ilham Aliyev addressing the conference.

The country expects to see a real growth in cotton production, as the government has focused on giving a new life to this industry. The presidential decree on state support for cotton production, dated September 22, 2016 is aimed to facilitate the lives of many farmers engaged in this field.

“Therefore, state support, joint work of all state structures, private structures and support provided by the public led to a completely new situation. I am confident that this year the figures will be even better, there is no doubt about it,” he said.“Since last year, we have been providing very large state support to cotton growing. Today's meeting is the second one, and holding of these meetings is a manifestation of this support.”

The work could have remained incomplete unless citizens showed interest in this sphere, said the head of state, attributing it as an important factor.

At the same time, we are taking very serious measures to stimulate citizens and farmers, President Aliyev added.

“No other country has created such conditions for farmers as we have done. Our farmers are exempt from all taxes, including land tax,” he said.

The industry promises to generate over 200,000 new jobs in the country this year, thus greatly contributing to increasing employment and reducing unemployment. “The industry created 64,000 jobs last year. So we will have more than a three-fold growth in jobs,” the president emphasized.

The President said the government accords high importance to the industry.

“We have already put in place an encouragement mechanism both for investment and for exports. And this gives an additional stimulus to farmers and creates additional opportunities for them,” President Aliyev added.

The head of state said that in the future cotton growing will develop even more intensively, will gain even greater scope, thus bringing great benefits to both citizens and the state.

He said the development of cotton-growing will make an outstanding contribution to boosting light industry.

“Last year we laid the foundation of a light industry park in Mingachevir. A total of nine plants, including a yarn plant, will be built there. The first plants will already open there this year. And this is a great economic initiative,” said President Aliyev. “The technological park will generate at least 5,000 new jobs.”

The head of state said he raises the issue of boosting Azerbaijan's trade and exports during his meetings with foreign counterparts in order to ensure the country's access to new markets.

“There are traditional markets that we are working with. We should access new markets, and the establishment of trade houses serves this aim. We will set up trade missions in Russia, Belarus, Ukraine, China, and the United Arab Emirates in the near future because, I think, these are the primary markets at the present,” the head of state added.

President Aliyev went on further speaking about the stability that is being ensured in Azerbaijan, stressing that the Azerbaijani people is guarantor of stability.

Azerbaijan stands out by its policy both in the region and in the world, noted President Aliyev.

He said that security measures are being ensured in Azerbaijan, social processes are underway in a positive direction, civil solidarity is being strengthened, economic and regional development are accelerating.

“Today we show an example of how to govern a country. We show this example, and, of course, this policy is also approved and supported by the people. This is the main factor for realization of our future plans,” said the president.

The unity of people and state power is the main factor that determines the successful development of each nation, noted President Aliyev.

“I’m confident that our successful economic policy, the development of regions and new initiatives, reforms will ensure sustainable development,” he said adding that strategic road maps have recently been compiled and published.

“The public already knows about this. There are specific programs in each sphere, and we work and will work on the basis of these programs,” added the president.

Other speakers at the event included head of Saatli District Executive Authority Siragaddin Jabbarov, head of Bilasuvar District Executive Authority Mahir Guliyev, Advisor to Gilan agricultural group on cotton-growing of Gilan Holding Bahruz Jamalov, head of Beylagan District Executive Authority Vagif Abdullayev, head of Barda District Executive Authority Vidadi Isayev, acting Director General of CTS Agro LLC Arif Ibrahimov, head of Tartar District Executive Authority Mustagim Mammadov and chairman of the Irrigation and Water Management Open Joint Stock Company Ahmad Ahmadzade.

Within the framework of the visit, President Aliyev attended a ceremony to launch water supply systems in the region, cotton plantation in Giragli village, attended the opening of newly renovated Saatli-Sarijalar-Gara Nuru-Shirinbayli-Fatalikand-Azadkand highway, inaugurated newly built Sarijalar substation, and attended the inauguration of an orphanage-kindergarten, whose construction was initiated by the Heydar Aliyev Foundation.

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Amina Nazarli is AzerNews’ staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @amina_nazarli

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