Azernews.Az

By Nigar Orujova

A special edition of the British Business Year magazine dedicated to Azerbaijan was presented in Baku on Thursday.

The special edition highlights the 90th anniversary of national leader Heydar Aliyev. The presentation, organized by the Azerbaijani Presidential Administration, was attended by Azerbaijani government officials, MPs and public figures.

The magazine`s country manager Betul Cakaloglu briefed the participants on the edition and highlighted that the magazine named Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev Person of the Year.

According to Cakaloglu, President Aliyev was honored for his role in ensuring Azerbaijan`s rapid development in the last five years; in turning the country into an important actor on the global geopolitical scene; in ensuring Azerbaijan`s tremendous contribution to maintaining global peace and security as a UN Security Council member and to developing the ICT sector in Azerbaijan, in the region and in the world through launching Azerspace, the country`s first communications satellite; as well as in making Azerbaijan the center for high-profile international social, political, economic forums, conferences and sports events.

Cakaloglu also expressed gratitude to the Presidential Administration`s department for socio-political affairs and other entities that provided assistance in preparing the special edition.

Speaking at the ceremony, the Presidential Administration's head of social and political affairs, Ali Hasanov, regarded as important the fact that this is the third edition dedicated to Azerbaijan.

"Azerbaijan occupies a worthy place on the international scene as a stable state," he said.

Hasanov noted that Azerbaijan is developing economically whereas most of countries are facing a crisis.

"World countries found themselves in such a situation that even going beyond the norms of international law, they set their eyes on the population's deposits in banks, cut pensions, put social projects and programs on hold. The crisis, which hit Europe, makes people leave for Asia and the East. They plan to implement their social and economic programs in the Asian countries. Under these circumstances, the Azerbaijani development model is of great interest not only for Azerbaijanis, but also for the whole wide world," Hasanov said.

Hasanov was presented with The Business Year magazine's prize.

Economic Development Minister Shahin Mustafayev noted that the economy of Azerbaijan has grown 10.5 percent in the past two months. According to him, entrepreneurs are scheduled to get 150 million manats in lax loans this year.

Mustafayev pointed out that Azerbaijan's GDP will double by 2020 thanks to the non-oil sector, with only 20 percent of GDP growth driven by the oil industry. "It means a total end of oil dependency," he said.

According to Communications and Information Technologies Minister Ali Abbasov, the ICT sector in Azerbaijan has registered astonishing development, adding that the country has "opened its information doors" to the world.

He noted that the competitiveness of Azerbaijani ICT companies will enhance in the world market in the years to come.

Abbasov noted that the launch of the first telecom satellite was one of the latest successes of Azerbaijan in the ICT sector.

Industry and Energy Minister Natig Aliyev said Azerbaijan plays a key role in ensuring energy security of the world. He spoke of the projects being implemented by Azerbaijan`s government.

President of the Azersun Holding group of companies Abdulbari Gozal said a healthy and apt young generation has shaped up in Azerbaijan. "They play an important role in the development of the Azerbaijani state."

Editor-in-chief of The Business Year magazine Jason John Nash emphasized the economic and political successes of Azerbaijan. He said the Azerbaijani economy has undergone transformation beginning from the presidencies of national leader Heydar Aliyev and then incumbent President Ilham Aliyev.

"Since the presidency of national leader Heydar Aliyev, and throughout the administration of President Ilham Aliyev, Azerbaijan has undergone an economic transformation," Nash said.

According to him, every year the magazine's coverage of the country grows, just as its economy has. "And just as every year, we look to publish the opinions of leaders in the public and private sector who are helping to shape Azerbaijan`s future."

Among all the CIS states, Azerbaijan can justifiably say that it has been the most successful in improving the living standards of its people, Nash said.

"Economic diversification is key to be able to transform the ephemeral financial resources coming from oil and gas into real jobs and a real future for the country. The dangers of a two-speed economy, whereby commodities drive narrow but sharp growth whilst other sectors underperform, should be avoided," he said.

Nashalso touched upon the declaration of 2013 as the Year of ICT and said that it is just one example of how the government is looking to prepare Azerbaijan`s people for the future, and this was underlined by the launch of the Azerspace satellite in the first quarter of 2013.

According to him, the country is increasingly becoming an important component of Europe`s energy security, and it will be deciding how that relationship will develop further in 2013 as new gas pipeline routes are determined.

While the path to economic growth and success is a long one and is never smooth, the people of Azerbaijan have much to look forward to in the future, he underscored.

The Business Year special edition provides an insight into the country`s political and economic development and emphasizes its international prestige.

It features an interview with President Ilham Aliyev and an article about the life of national leader Heydar Aliyev.

The edition`s guest interviewees include NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen, President of the European Council Herman Van Rompuy, UK Secretary for Trade and Investment Stephen Green, and Founding Chairman of US Business Executives for National Security Stanley Weiss. They touched on the augmenting image of Azerbaijan in the region and the world, development rate and international ties.

The edition features interviews with people responsible for accomplishments made in the political, economic, social, cultural, health, sport, industry, ICT, and construction sectors in Azerbaijan, as well as heads of major local and foreign companies. In addition, the magazine narrates about the successes achieved in President Aliyev`s domestic and foreign policy.

The issue also includes photographs reflecting Azerbaijan`s construction boom and the country`s tourism facilities.