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President Ilham Aliyev: â€œSalaries and pensions will be increased in Azerbaijan this year againâ€

02 April 2010 09:24 (UTC +04:00)

The head of state noted that Azerbaijan was pursuing an independent policy in all spheres, as well as in the solution of economic, political and social issues.

â€œWe should try in order to develop our country in future, at all times, to solve all the problems of our countryâ€, he said.
Ilham Aliyev noted that first part of the State Program on Social-Economic Development of the Regions has been completed successfully.
â€œNow the second program is underway. There are good achievements in the implementation of this program, too. But we must finish all the work in time and carry out all tasks in the program in connection with the completion of the second program. If it is so, main economic, infrastructural and social issues will be solved by 2013. In any case, we have enough political will, strong economic potential, professional personnel to do it. I am sure that existing infrastructure and technical opportunities will help us to achieve this goal,â€ he said.

The president also noted that there were still many problems to solve.
â€œBig part of main social and economic problems has been solved. Unemployment has been significantly eliminated in Azerbaijan. Poverty level has dropped from 49 percent to 11 percent - as in developed countries. All this is backed by reforms, considered policy and economic measures,â€ he said.

Noting that 2009 was a test year for the entire world, Ilham Aliyev said economic and financial crisis had influenced all countries.
â€œHow did the countries stand this test? This is the question. Azerbaijan is a country that has developed rapidly on the world scale, gained economic achievements. Our economy has increased about 10 percent. And it is not a simple indicator. This indicator shows itself in the living standard, flourishing cities, new roads, building institutions. Today, foreign labours come to Azerbaijan to work and we have established State Migration Service to control these processes. Our citizens, who had left for foreign cities and countries, are returning. Stability, social-political order is on the highest level in Azerbaijanâ€.

President said that measures taken for the elimination of unemployment had resulted in the establishment of new institutions, factories.
â€œPrivate sector is developing. Loans are allocated to support entrepreneurship; big subsidies are given for the development of agriculture. Infrastructural projects, road building in the country, modern institutions, and process of gas supply are going on rapidly. We should work in order to supply all settlements of our country with enough energy and solve gas problems.

In the next stage drinking water, sewage problems are priorities for us. I hope water, sewage problems of all our cities and regions will be solved by 2013.

The head of state underlined that international financial structures, reliable international organizations noted Azerbaijanâ€™s achievements.
â€œWe are the first country in CIS area for the competitiveness. The recent Global Competitiveness report of the World Economic Forum says that Azerbaijan holds the first place in CIS area in the sphere of information and communication technologies. This sphere appeared in our country five years ago. Earlier, most people in Azerbaijan did not know about information and communication technologies. We have been the first in CIS area within five years,â€ he said.

President said Azerbaijan would develop more rapidly, become modern, the countryâ€™s long-term development strategy would be ensured.
â€œThis strategy should be formed so that the dependence on natural resources can be minimized. We should and are establishing the countryâ€™s economy so that we are not dependent on only one sphere. Therefore, the process of diversification has widely spread in Azerbaijan. Though the oil price dropped in the world in 2009, Azerbaijanâ€™s economy is growing. Ordinary Azerbaijanis did not almost feel the bitter results of the crisis, because inflation rate remained stable, we prevented the price rise. Simply the prices were increased by 1.5 percent, salaries and pensions were given in time, this process is still continuing. It is planned to increase salaries, pensions this year,â€ he said.

President said Azerbaijan almost provides itself with agricultural and food products. He noted that diversification is the main condition for Azerbaijanâ€™s development, it has almost been achieved.
â€œIn future as our opportunities extend, we will fulfill all the targets lying ahead the whole country,â€ he said.