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Yaver Jamalov: Azerbaijan will build a new military industrial plant next year - EXCLUSIVE

Yaver Jamalov: Azerbaijan will build a new military industrial plant next year - <font color=red>EXCLUSIVE </font>

26 September 2008 13:28 (UTC +04:00)

- Several months ago, the Ministry of Defense Industry showed the first motodor and morodor-type armored vehicles. When will their batch production begin?

- I would like to recall that models of our equipment were submitted to the Head of State in June this year. Getting acquainted with the designs, the president ordered to start manufacturing. We have created the first samples of motodor and morodor military vehicles. We will launch the assembly of this by the end of this year and we intend to start batch production next year.

- Will these vehicles be equipped with home-made or foreign weapons?

- They will be mainly equipped with home-made arms. We already have such capabilities.

- Arethere plans to showcase Azeri-made products at military exhibitions abroad? And, will any military exhibition be held in Azerbaijan soon?

- Today, we go to international exhibitions as a visitor. We have been producing certain types of military equipment for one year. We plan to show them at international exhibitions. We also have plans to hold military exhibitions in Azerbaijan in the future.

- Could you please give information about the implementation of military-industrial complex development program?

- The Defense Industry Development Program covers the period up to 2016. In accordance with the program, it is planned to produce 80 types of defense-purpose products at the plants owned by the ministry this year. In addition, we plan to produce 444 varieties of products. The creation and production of these products are for the needs of the Ministry of Defense, Interior Troops, Border Guards and other structures.
We have completed 70% of the preparatory work. Last year, we started to manufacture 29 kinds of weapons, ammunition and spare parts for these military bodies.

- Murad Bayar, Undersecretary for Turkish Defense Industry, said a number of military-purposed products will be manufactured jointlyâ€¦

- At present, Negotiations are under way with Turkish companies. with Turkish companies, including Aselsan, Roketsan and others. At the same time, we have had meetings with a number of well-known companies of foreign countries.

- As of today, a regional arms market, is we can say, monopolized by Russia and Ukraine. Will Azerbaijanâ€™s emerging military industry be able to compete in this market?

- At present, we are doing marketing research on domestic and foreign markets to know the demand for whichever products. Naturally, our products must be competitive. I think that the Azerbaijani products will take its place at both regional and foreign markets. For example, Azerbaijan is making optical devices that meet modern international standards. After supplying the demand in Azerbaijan, we plan to export these products. Our plants produce products for both military and civilian use.

- How much investment was made in the Azerbaijanâ€™s military-industrial complex this year?

- From the state budget, AZN 66 million was allocated for defense expenditures and AZN 35 million for investment expenditures. We expect a rise in the budget allocations next year. I canâ€™t say any exact figure now the draft budget is under discussion.

- Are there any plans to build new plants in the regions of Azerbaijan?

- Yes. We plan to construct plants in regions, especially in Khachmaz and Ganja. Also, there are plans about the construction of new plants and rehabilitation of existing plants in other regions. Under the rehabilitation program for 2008-2011, it is intended to reconstruct 53 military facilities.

- When will the production of helicopters and airplanes start?

- In the future, but not in the coming years. We discussed this issue with several foreign companies, including Turkish firms. In the future, we can consider the production of helicopters jointly with Turkey.