Azernews.Az

By Amina Nazarli

Migration is a fact of life in the contemporary world and can elucidate a number of secret milestones achieved by a country.

Young people are the largest group of individuals migrating each year, which can be explained by their search of prospects for a better life. Decent work and better living conditions, education, family reunification, and humanitarian reasons can be listed among the causes of youth migration.

Azerbaijan, with its impressive economic growth, attracts many people from across the globe. Last year, some 424 young foreigners aged between 15-29 immigrated to the oil-rich country along the Caspian seashore. They chose Azerbaijan for permanent residence, regarding it as the best opportunity to build their future lives.

A total of 88 of these immigrants are men and 336 are women according to statistics.

Most of the immigrants – 245 exactly – came from the Commonwealth of Independent States, especially from Russia and Georgia, while the other 179 are citizens of other countries.

The deteriorating economic situation in Russia and its influence on a number of CIS countries and Eastern Europe, the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, and compounded by a rage of other problems force people to find new places of residence ensure their families’ well-being.

Today Azerbaijan – with its stable economy amid a world economic crisis and unemployment in neighboring countries – is attractive for job seekers.

Last year more than 20,000 people appealed to the State Migration Service, despite the fact that the quota for 2014 foreign nationals was set at only 12,000 people.

Quickly-developing Azerbaijan introduces new opportunities for opening new businesses and working on major regional projects focused on the development of the high-tech industry.

For instance, the development of space industry, particularly the launch of the AzerSky satellite into orbit last June, offers great opportunities for specialists throughout its 12-year operation.

The most attractive spheres for migrants are ICT, tourism, hospitality, and education.

At present, the official number of foreigners employed in the labor market of Azerbaijan, makes up 3,891 people. Some 23 percent was accounted for by the oil sector, 30 percent are employed in the construction sector, while 10.1 percent are in the manufacturing sector and 10.6 percent are focused in trade and etc.

Azerbaijan, along with a stable economy, is also attractive for its hospitability and tolerance, which is the main pillar of politics in Azerbaijan, where many religions co-exist in peace.

Being one of the world’s safest countries with its domestic and external stability, Azerbaijan is the primary destination for Caucasus-bound immigrants.

Based on a law from April 2013, any foreigners and stateless persons arriving in Azerbaijan for a period exceeding three days should register with the Migration Service.

The migration law allows immigrants to work in Azerbaijan for five years by paying 1,000 manats ($959.47) in taxes each year.

Last year the number of immigrants surpassed the number of emigrants leaving Azerbaijan. Some 191 Azerbaijanis including 63 men and 128 women left the country in 2014.

The most popular place for Azerbaijani immigrants was Russia. Last year 113 people, among which 43 were men and 70 women, chose Russia for permanent residence.

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

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