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President Ilham Aliyev: â€œWe will ensure sustainable development of the country for the next decadesâ€

08 June 2013 03:11 (UTC +04:00)

Baku-APA. "For ten years we have achieved the most rapid economic development in the world, owing to the economic reforms . It is impossible to find the second country where the economy has grown more than three times for ten years, and all other statistics were also at the highest level. Poverty was reduced 6 per cent, unemployment - 5.2 percent. More than 1 million and 100 thousand new jobs were opened. Our foreign debt is only 7 percent of gross domestic product. All international credit rating agencies increase the credit ratings of Azerbaijan. For the competitiveness, our country is already on the 46th place in the world. Very big economic initiatives are put forward. Very big reforms are held. This is the reality. Of course, this reality makes us look optimistic about the future, plan for the future. And we're planning our future. We are already engaged in realization of the Concept of "Azerbaijan 2020: Vision to the future." We look to the future. Ongoing projects in Azerbaijan directed to future. We must ensure the successful and sustainable development of our country for the decades ahead. I have no doubt that we will achieve this.

The Head of the State stressed importance of diversification in the economy. “In this area, great success was also achieved. During the four months of this year, our non-oil sector grew by 11 percent. It is probably the highest rate in the world. All received decisions at the time are being implemented. We are reducing our dependence on oil factor. This year, the oil sector is already a minority in our gross domestic product. That is, there was a diversification and in the future industrialization process will go even faster. Large industrial complexes will be created. In dealing with social issues we will continue to take serious steps. Salaries, pensions and benefits will be raised. The works will continue to improve living conditions of IDPs. We will continue our policy in all areas. We need to ensure fully food safety. A few years ago, the task was put to supply ourselves with basic food commodities. We are approaching to this target.

Now Azerbaijan plays a major role in the transport security. Completion of construction of the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway will change the transportation map of the region, continent and continents. Once again, Azerbaijan is the initiator and the main partner.

All the steps, related to our energy policy, are undertaken reasonably. We have completely solved energy security issue within the country. Now we are working as a partner, we carry out activities with Europe in addressing energy security issues of the continent. Azerbaijan is a major player, the main initiator of the Southern Gas Corridor. Solutions adopted in Azerbaijan will give new mainstream to the issues related to energy security in the future. It is our great success and great responsibility.”

Azerbaijani President noted that there are specific programs, plans, concepts, implementation mechanisms in all directions: “At the beginning of next year, the 3^rd State program related to the work in the regions will be realized. As a result of the first and second State programs, the regions came to life, the cities became well-organized, prettier, a modern infrastructure are created, our villages are thriving, rising, the infrastructure - roads, schools, hospitals, Olympic facilities, gasification, power lines and water supply are upgraded.