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“The second program for 2009-2013 played a great role in the regional development and strengthening of the economic potential of the country. Thanks to it, today Azerbaijan is very optimistic about the future. The main reason for this is the economic independence and political will,” Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev said at the conference on the implementation of “State Program on socio-economic development of Azerbaijan’s regions for 2009-2013” today, APA reports quoting AzTV.
The Head of State said that Azerbaijan developed rapidly over the past 10 years. The economy grew by 3.4 times and industrial production by 2.7 times. Launch of the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline generated a large amount of revenues. Revenues from natural resources are spent on infrastructure projects.
Speaking about the economic potential of Azerbaijan, the President said that foreign debt would be maintained in a low level in the coming years. He said that investment in the country’s economy reached a record high last year and made up $28bn, domestic investments exceeded foreign investments. Azerbaijan remained as an attractive country for foreign businessmen during this period. More investments are made in the non-oil sector.
Aliyev said that the National Fund for Entrepreneurship Support would continue granting preferential loans to develop most needed fields of the country’s economy.
The President underlined that over the past 10 years, he attended the opening of more than 1200 facilities and would continue to support entrepreneurs: “During the past ten years, the implementation of infrastructure projects has been a priority. 17 power stations have been constructed, about 90 percent of the country has been supplied with gas and extensive projects on road construction are being implemented.”
Speaking about the social infrastructure projects, President Aliyev said drinking water and sewerage projects were being implemented successfully and this process would be further accelerated within five years.
The Head of State noted that over the past 10 years, 2 700 schools has been built, more than 500 medical centers constructed or overhauled, 41 Olympic complexes inaugurated, a number of cultural centers built or reconstructed.
The President also emphasized that the upcoming 3rd state program for next five years will be of great importance in terms of strengthening the country’s economy.
Making a closing speech, the Head of State noted that the achievements of the past ten years would be continued and macro-economic indicators would be stable in the coming years and said there were no financial problems for this and main funds would be spent on the social and infrastructure projects.
The Head of State said there were enough resources for the implementation of the next state program within five years and expressed his confidence in successful implementation of all projects.
President Aliyev noted the importance of water, sewerage and irrigation projects, application of most modern methods in the development of agriculture, increase in productivity, the creation of an electronic registration system for farmers, the implementation of regional specialization, creation of the electronic land registration system, ensuring of full transparency in allocation of subsidies, protection of food quality, the establishment of agroparks and logistic centers, banks’ large investments in the form of loans in a real sector of economy, continuation of fight against corruption.
The Head of State stated that all tasks had been fulfilled over the past 10 years and the upcoming 3rd state program would contribute to developing the country.
Apa.az
