Azernews.Az

By Nigar Orujova

All the social programs will be fully implemented this year, President Ilham Aliyev said at the conference dedicated to the implementation of the State program on socio-economic development of Azerbaijan’s regions in 2014-2018 on January 26.

“Each year we discuss the implementation of this program, define the directions for further activity. The implementation of this program is our very successful step,” he said.

The head of state said the third program was adopted in 2014 and is being successfully implemented.

The president said that in 2004, when the first program was adopted, the task was set so that Azerbaijan’s districts would develop in an accelerated manner.

“Infrastructural projects should be implemented in districts, jobs, social enterprises need to be created, so that the country’s development would be comprehensive and sustainable,” President Aliyev said.

Important steps on Southern Gas Corridor project

Very important steps have been made regarding the Southern Gas Corridor project implementation, the head of state said at the conference.

He stressed that 2015 was a memorable year in the energy sector.

The president further reminded about the first meeting of the Consultative Council of the Southern Gas Corridor, which was held in Baku.

He said that the high-ranking officials from the project-participating countries attended the meeting.

Concrete program has been approved, joint declaration has been adopted, with Azerbaijan's special and leading role in this project’s realization highlighted there, said the president.

“The Southern Gas Corridor is the project of energy security for Europe. For us the implementation of this project will create additional political, financial, economic opportunities and will allow our rich gas resources to be exported to the world markets in the next tens of years,” the president said.

“This will bring us economic benefits, provide currency flow, and our constant development will be even stronger,” he added.

The president went on to say that this year additional measures will be taken with regard to the implementation of the Southern Gas Corridor.

The president said the Southern Gas Corridor consists of four projects – the Shah Deniz, South Caucasus Pipeline, TANAP and TAP, and added that works on each of the project are being conducted successfully.

Conditions for business need to be improved

It is necessary to carry out additional measures for extension of entrepreneurship, creation of even better conditions for businessmen, acceleration of domestic production in Azerbaijan given the current circumstances, President Aliyev said.

“I want the entrepreneurs representing all the districts to give speeches, inform about the work being done and at the same time discuss their issues of concern,” Ilham Aliyev said. “Today, after a break, ministers, government officials, heads of executive power and entrepreneurs will continue their work in sections. I am confident that the issues to be discussed there will be significant, and concrete proposals should be made as a result.”

The president said that a lot of work was done for business development, and today most of the Azerbaijani economy, over 80 percent, is formed by the private sector.

“However, a new period, new situation require new approaches,” said the president. “Given the current conditions, it is necessary to carry out additional measures to extend entrepreneurship, create even better conditions for entrepreneurs, and accelerate domestic and local production. I have already given instructions to the relevant government agencies, but I want the local entrepreneurs to talk about their problems themselves, so that these problems would be solved.”

Speaking about the plans for the current year, President Ilham Aliyev said that all the social programs will be fulfilled in the first place.

“As you know, wages and pensions, social benefits have been increased, social protection is one of the main directions of our policy,” he said. “Azerbaijan is faithful to the market economy and the market economy develops successfully in the country. However, while carrying out reforms, we must always remember about social issues. We mustn’t forget that we work for the people, a citizen of Azerbaijan is in the heart of our policy, and we must solve his (her) problems.”

Azerbaijan's most positive result is that the country's non-oil industry grew by 8.4 percent, President Aliyev stressed.

The president said that the economic development of the country was provided last year, despite the fact that in comparison with previous years, GDP growth didn’t demonstrate such high levels, and it grew by only 1.1 percent.

But in the current situation it is a positive result, given a four-fold decrease in oil prices, he said.

Speaking about the growth of Azerbaijan's non-oil industry growth, Ilham Aliyev said that it is the main indicator because it shows that the industrialization policy pursued in the country brings results.

Particular attention has been recently paid to agriculture as well, it increased by 6.6 percent," he said.

"This shows that even in the years of crisis, we develop, will develop and the projects being implemented this year will allow the country's economy to develop in 2016 as well, new jobs, enterprises to be created, so that we would be able not only to maintain this dynamics, but also accelerate it.”

Instead of dialogue, on global scale we see confrontation

Confrontation, misunderstanding, strife are observed on a global scale instead of dialogue, President Ilham Aliyev said.

"This is the present economic and geopolitical situation," Ilham Aliyev said.

The president voiced concerns in connection with the situation ongoing in the region and the world. "We have to work even harder. We need to successfully carry out our policy and fulfill all the tasks facing the country. I believe that Azerbaijan was able to maintain the dynamics of successful development in all areas in 2015,” he added.

The president said the country's international prestige has greatly boosted.

President Aliyev said that Azerbaijan has been playing its role in strengthening the dialogue between civilizations for many years.

“Last year, I made 20 official and business visits abroad,” Aliyev said. “Heads of more than 15 foreign countries and governments visited Azerbaijan, which is a progress itself. It shows that Azerbaijan plays a very active role in the international arena, and there is a great respect for Azerbaijan in the world. I see it every time I travel abroad. This time, taking part in the Davos forum, I once again saw a great favor and respect towards the policy, the position, principle stand of our country, and towards the achievements.”

“We successfully continue cooperation with international organizations,” said the president. “We strengthen activity within the framework of organizations, where we hold membership. We have established relationships based on mutual respect with all other organizations and we want to deepen these relationships. I believe that our activity with international organizations will be carried out more rapidly in 2016.”

The head of state said that in 2015, the economic crisis in the world intensified even more. Meanwhile, Azerbaijan managed to solve many issues last year, despite the crisis.

“All the tasks outlined since the beginning of the year have been fulfilled,” he said. “It is indeed our great success, given uneasy geopolitical situation and the global economic crisis. That’s because bloody clashes, wars continue in our region, and new hotbeds of confrontation are being created.”

“The people who have lost their homes, loved ones and property, headed to Europe, and what awaits them there -- all happens in the eyes of everyone,” he said. “Unfortunately, migration crisis exacerbates Europe's radical forces. It is the greatest danger for Europe, for us, and for the entire world.”

Azerbaijan turning into unique transportation center

Azerbaijan was able to present itself to the world as a very strong transit country in 2015, said President Aliyev.

“The investments made in the transport infrastructure opened up these opportunities,” he said. “The paths running from east to west and from north to south are passing through Azerbaijan. This is an innovation and we created it for the world. By investing and creating an excellent business environment, we turn Azerbaijan into a unique transportation center.”

“Very important steps were taken in this direction in 2015 and 2016. Cargoes began to pass through Azerbaijan not only from Central Asia to Europe, but also from China, and even South Korea to Europe,” Aliyev said.

“At the same time, we are reviving the historic Silk Road for the first time in history. At the same time, cargo from Europe to Asia, from Ukraine to China began to be delivered via Azerbaijan for the first time. The cargoes delivered through Georgia and Russia, from Turkey to Central Asia, are now transported to Asia through Azerbaijan, through the Caspian Sea. We have created all opportunities.”

“Would Azerbaijan become a transit country today unless we were engaged in these issues?” the president emphasized.

“Could anyone speak today of the “Southern Gas Corridor” unless we take the initiative and sign the TANAP project together with Turkey in 2012? Could anyone today ensure energy security of Europe without us? We are doing this. Why? Because it is needed for our people, it strengthens our country and meets our interests.”

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Nigar Orujova is AzerNews’ staff journalist. Follow her on Twitter: @o_nigar

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