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Azerbaijan will soon approve a new state programme for development of regions

23 February 2009 13:31 (UTC +04:00)

The minister said that the head of state signed 17 orders for the implementation of the state programme for Socio-Economic Development of Regions.
According to him, the president made 127 visits to regions, 6 visits to Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic and attended the groundbreaking and opening ceremonies of about 500 enterprises.
He added that 83% of investments went to the regions during this period.
1 000 kilometers of roads were built and reconstructed, 67 bridges were constructed and 34 bridges were repaired, 2 500 kilometers of highways of international importance were constructed and reconstructed.
Besides, 27 000 enterprises were opened, the National Fund for Entrepreneurship funded about 7 000 projects through 324 million.
Shahin Mustafayev noted that non-oil sector exports increased by 2.2 times over the reporting period.
In his brief speech, Azerbaijanâ€™s President Ilham Aliyev pointed out that the next State Programme on the Socio-Economic Development of Regions for the next five years was prepared.
He said that this yearâ€™s investment programme would spend several billion dollars.
According to him, proposals suggested by the regions were included in the new programme.
He noted that the implementation of infrastructure projects was almost completed.
Ilham Aliyev said that the next State Programme on the Socio-Economic Development of Regions for the next five years will soon be adopted.
The Head of State noted that Azerbaijan’s economy grew by 2.6 times not only at the expense of oil sector.
In his words, the main objective is to develop non-oil sector. He noted that the new five-year programme would prioritize the issues of providing the population with drinking water, reclamation and irrigation.
He added that Oguz-Gabala-Baku water pipeline was being constructed through funding from the SOFAZ, Takhta Korpu water reservoir was being reconstructed and Samur-Absheron channel would be built.
He added that water treatment facilities built in regions by the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources would facilitate access to drinking water for 800 000 people.
In general, the new state will place the major focus on environmental issues.
Stressing that businesses based in Azerbaijan have already started to export their products abroad, the President said that there would be an increase in the size of loans lent by the National Fund for Entrepreneurship.
Ilham Aliyev also spoke about the measures taken for the development of entrepreneurship. He said that there is stability, unity of the people and the authorities in Azerbaijan and the country remains open to cooperation and is a reliable partner for the all countries.
The conference was followed by an exhibition of products manufactured by enterprises which started up in 2004-2008.