Azernews.Az

BAKU – A special edition of the London-based Business Year magazine devoted to Azerbaijan was presented in Baku on Friday.

Presidential Administration department head Ali Hasanov said at the ceremony that the edition is the first-ever special issue on Azerbaijan released in the former Soviet republics. He said the publication was due to the rampant economic development achieved in the country in past years.

"Azerbaijan was the world leader in 2010 for growth in all areas," Hasanov said. "Incomes of the country’s population and the state budget increased. In 2011, Azerbaijan’s state budget has hit a record high of $20 billion. [For comparison’s sake], Azerbaijan’s budget was only $1.4 billion seven years ago. It is for this reason that The Business Year dedicated its special edition to Azerbaijan this year."

Hasanov said President Ilham Aliyev’s interview with the magazine was the first broad interview given by the president to print media in the past five years, which indicates that he highly assesses The Business Year’s activity.

The magazine’s special edition, along with President Aliyev’s interview, included those by the Russian and Georgian leaders, as well as the Swiss prime minister. Also interviewed were a number of Azerbaijani ministers, heads of both local and foreign companies operating in the country, and university principals.