Azernews.Az

By Nigar Orujova

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev visited Sumgayit, an industrial city some 30 km north of the capital Baku, last Friday, and reviewed a number of facilities there, expressing an expectation that there will be absolutely no unemployment in the city soon.

The President paid tribute to the memory of nationwide leader Heydar Aliyev and laid flowers at his statue in the center of Sumgayit.

He also attended the opening of the Heydar Aliyev Center in the city.

President Aliyev was informed that the Heydar Aliyev Park is one of the most popular and frequently visited recreation places for the local population. All conditions are available for meaningful rest of both local residents and visitors. There are special attractions for kids as well. The comprehensive reconstruction, landscaping and vegetation work carried out in the park have transformed it into one of the most beautiful parts of Sumgayit.

The Center, which covers a total area of 1,040 square meters, also displays books and documents about the world-famous politician. The Center runs a conference room, an office, art and design studios, an electronic library, a virtual classroom and computer courses.

The President also examined the Flag Square in Sumgayit, which has been under renovation since 2012. The length of the flag, which rises 72 meters high above the ground, is 20 meters and the width is 10 meters. In addition, the park adjacent to the square was renovated and beautifully landscaped. Extensive landscaping and creative work has been carried out around the square.

Juma mosque

Then the President reviewed the Sumgayit Juma Mosque after major overhaul.

President Aliyev was informed that the total area of the mosque, which was opened in the 6th microdistrict of Sumgayit in 2003, is 4.5 hectares. A total of 500 people can simultaneously perform their prayers there. President Aliyev visited the mosque in July 2011.

On the instruction of the President, the mosque has been overhauled. A 34-meter minaret has been built and an area of 480 square meters covered with carpets. The altar of the mosque has been reconstructed, the interior of the dome decorated with frescos and the floor area of 624 square meters renovated.

ASAN service center

Afterwards, President Aliyev attended the opening of the ASAN Service Center (ASAN Xidmet) of the State Agency for Public Services and Social Innovation under the Azerbaijani President.

While touring the center, the head of the department on work with law-enforcement agencies of the Presidential Administration, Fuad Alasgarov, informed the President that the country's first machine for filling out electronic applications was installed at the center.

Citizens applying to the center can complete an online application and print it out. The basic principles of the ASAN service center are efficiency, transparency, courtesy, responsibility, ethical conduct and convenience. The center is equipped with computers that are constantly connected to the Internet.

The new facility has all the conditions for people to use all types of electronic services. To make pastime at the center effective for people awaiting their turn, ASAN Service operates various support services such as banks, insurance, translation and legal aid centers, a laboratory, a medical center, a children's entertainment area, an internet cafe, a post office, a photo studio, etc.

It was noted that the building also has all the necessary facilities for the disabled. At the entrance to the building there is a special lift. For ease of movement of the visually impaired people, the floors have a special coating, while the signs are written in letters they can read.

The center also operates the most sophisticated equipment, enabling people to be served in the order of an electronic queue. Electronic bulletin boards and signs facilitate access to information. President Aliyev was informed that in order to provide services to citizens, 30 young volunteers have been selected and already sent into training.

The President addressed the service's volunteers.

"ASAN Xidmet has already reached Sumgayit, three months after Baku. When I last visited Sumgayit, I said that all the standards existing in Baku should be applied to Sumgayit. And the infrastructure projects should be implemented at the same level. Public facilities and the service sector should be at the same level," he said.

According to the President, Sumgayit is very a beautiful city of Azerbaijan. It is the second biggest industrial city in the South Caucasus after Baku.

"The population of Sumgayit is also growing and jobs are being created. The new industries and industrial parks being put in place now will attract workforce from neighboring regions to Sumgayit. In other words, there will be a lot of work to do here, and this center will provide services not only to the residents of Sumgayit, but also those of Absheron, Siyazan, Shabran and Khizi regions."

Aliyev also praised the volunteers, saying, "I think this is a very important experience primarily for your future endeavors. On the other hand, this volunteering demonstrates and reflects your intentions. It means that you are active members of society. If you want to provide free assistance to citizens and the state, it means that you have very good intentions and that they are fully consistent with the overall development of our country. This is the way young people should be - loving their home country, be kind to people, professional, educated and modern. I wish you every success. I want to express my gratitude to you for this initiative."

Textile enterprise

President Aliyev also attended the opening of the Gilan textile enterprise in Sumgayit.

The Gilan Textile Park, built on an area of 20 hectares, includes light industry enterprises - weaving, dyeing and garment factories.

The National Fund on Entrepreneurship Support under the Ministry of Economic Development allocated a low-interest loan of 15 million manats for the construction of the three factories in the Gilan Textile Park worth 46 million manats. The construction of the park began in 2011.

The weaving factory, which covers an area of 7,000 square meters, consists of three main production and ancillary workshops.

Equipped with machines manufactured in Europe, it will be able to produce a wide range of high quality fabrics. The factory produces pure cotton products, as well as products made of a mixture of cotton and polyester. Humidity control at the factory is carried out by a special ventilation system.

A separate factory has been built within the complex to dye fabrics. Dyes imported from Germany are used in the process, which are completely harmless. The washing, bleaching and drying of fabrics are also carried out here. The use of state-of-the-art technology enables production of high-quality fabrics meeting international standards. Along with addressing domestic demand, there are also plans to export finished products to other countries. Preliminary agreements have been reached to that end with Italy, Russia and Ukraine. Some of the fabrics are sent to a modern garment factory also built within the park.

The factory operates a separate line producing blankets. This line has capacity to produce 18,000 blankets a month. The quality of goods manufactured by high-tech equipment is fully guaranteed. The line for the production of bedding sets is also fully automated.

During President Aliyev's visit to the garment factory, it was indicated that the factory, which covers a total area of 6,000 square meters, is fitted with the latest process equipment. Every month the factory produces 50,000 sets of men's, women's and children's outerwear, military and special outfits meeting NATO standards.

Aliyev met with employees of the enterprise.

"These are modern factories. Jobs have also been created - there are 1,000 people working here. It is a great job. Large investments have been made. The private sector has made investment and the state has helped. Such great enterprises are set up in Azerbaijan so that our citizens could have jobs. If it goes on like this, there will be no unemployment in Sumgayit at all soon," he said.

Continuing familiarization with the enterprise, the President was informed that the establishment of a complex of weaving, dyeing and garment factories and the application of cutting-edge technologies enables production of high-quality knitting goods and reduces the cost of fabrics and knitwear. The construction of the first such complex in the Caucasus is an indication of the successful industrial policy carried out in the country.

The head of state was informed that preferential loans in the amount of 83 million manats had been allocated for the development of the industrial potential of the city of Sumgayit.

President Aliyev stressed the importance of strengthening the industrial capacity of Mingachevir alongside Sumgayit. It was noted that initial steps had already been taken to create an industrial park in Mingachevir. Work on future projects is currently underway.