President Aliyev praises 2017 for major economic reforms

President Ilham Aliyev, chairing a meeting of the Cabinet of Ministers dedicated to results of socio-economic development in the nine months of 2017 and objectives for the future, hailed the successful and comprehensive development of Azerbaijan during this period.

Saying dynamic development was ensured in all fields in the country, the head of state stressed that the country’s economic indicators are positive.

Pointing out that the non-oil economy grew by 2.5 percent in the first nine months of the year, the head of state described this as a result of the policy of recent years.

The President noted that the industrial part of the non-oil sector grew by 3.1 percent, agriculture by 2.8 percent, while the foreign trade increased by 7 percent in the first three quarters of the year.

Ilham Aliyev emphasized that Azerbaijan's foreign exchange reserves totaled $42 billion in the first nine months of the year.

"We are thinking about longterm sustainable development," he stressed.

The head of state described Azerbaijan's economic opportunities as one of the key conditions of independence. He pointed out that a $4.5 billion growth in foreign exchange reserves is one of the most successful achievements in the nine-month period.

Hailing the successful implementation of major infrastructure projects, including the construction of new roads, drinking water, gas, electricity supply and melioration projects over the past period, the head of state underlined that such measures give impetus to the successful development of regions and the overall economic progress of the country.

Addressing the social problems of IDPs, and providing them with housing has also been a major focus of the government's attention from the beginning of the year.

President Aliyev noted that Azerbaijan made great strides in the field of sports, adding that the Islamic Solidarity Games were excellently organized in the country this year.

The head of state underlined Azerbaijan's strengthening positions on the international scene over the past three quarters, saying Azerbaijan is known as a reliable partner in the world. He recalled about his 14 foreign visits, while more than 10 heads of state and government paid visits to Azerbaijan in the nine months of 2017, describing each of these visits as beneficial for the country.

Providing an insight into the Armenia-Azerbaijan NagornoKarabakh conflict, President Aliyev said that Azerbaijan's position on this issue remains unchanged, and that the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan is not the subject of negotiations. He noted that Azerbaijan will not allow creating the second Armenian state on its territory.

"Although Armenia tried to disrupt the negotiations it did not succeed," the head of state underlined. “Nagorno-Karabakh is our historical and ancestral land; we must return and will return to this land. The territorial integrity of our country is not and will never be a topic of negotiations,” noted the Azerbaijani President.

He went on to say that today the negotiation process is being resumed without any conditions.

“Armenia has once again disgraced itself before the world community and the resumption of negotiations is not a gesture for us,” added the President.

Hailing agreement on Azeri-Chirag-Gunashli fields, the President pointed out that this is the significant event that took place in the oil and gas sector of Azerbaijan over the period.

Noting that the key goal is to develop the non-oil sector, the head of state pointed out that oil revenues are channeled into the development of human capital.

Saying the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway will be officially launched soon, President Aliyev added that the project, which involve and in many cases were initiated by Azerbaijan, are global in nature and contribute to the strengthening of the country's position in the world.

The head of state noted that serious steps relating to economic reforms were taken in the country over the past nine months, comprehensive conditions were created for entrepreneurs, the development of strategic road maps was ensured, and the investment promotion mechanism was launched.

“To date, more than 200 investment promotion certificates have been issued, as a result of which 1.7 billion manat (about $1 billion) was invested by the private sector in Azerbaijan. Along with this, the mechanism of export promotion has been launched in the country,” he said.

This year will go down in Azerbaijan's history as a year of serious economic reforms, according to Ilham Aliyev, who added that the Davos World Economic Forum's global competitiveness report, which involves 140 countries, says Azerbaijan has moved up two spots to rank 35th, maintaining its leadership in the CIS.

“Anyway, we knew that we are on the right track,” President Aliyev continued. “Our economic policy is well reflected in the real life. The public and political stability, as well as people-government unity in Azerbaijan ensured attraction of investments in the economic sphere and encouraged local investors to invest in our country. Both foreign investors and local entrepreneurs have great confidence in our country and it is justified. It is not a coincidence that $8.3 billion was invested in the economy of our country over the first nine months of this year.”

In his closing remarks, President Aliyev said that the issues envisaged by the state investment program will be addressed by the end of the year. The head of state emphasized the possibility of adopting the state investment program for 2018.

Pointing out the work done to develop entrepreneurship, and the preferential loans granted to businessmen, the head of state noted that National Fund for Entrepreneurship Support of the Economy Ministry should ensure lending by the end of the year.

Hailing the implementation of very important projects on road infrastructure in the country in nine months of this year, Ilham Aliyev said that these projects will give impetus to the development of tourism sector in the regions.

"More rural roads will be constructed next year. Apart from this, 150,000 hectares of land will be supplied with water this year, while 100,000 hectares of land is to be supplied with water next year, which will ensure the agricultural development," he said.

President Aliyev also praised the important steps, which were taken to provide farmers with agricultural machinery, saying logistic centers were built in the regions and new modern greenhouse complexes are currently being built in the area of more than 400 hectares.

Saying that modern industrial zones were created in the regions, the head of state noted the importance of active participation in exhibitions and international events in order to promote the country's export potential.

The President underlined the revival in the construction sector, saying 95 residential buildings are currently under construction in the capital. He noted that modern residential complexes are built in place of unusable buildings.

Hailing the successful work to establish ASAN Service centers, the leader also noted the importance of recently created ABAD centers. He praised the rapid development in the country` tourism sector.

ASAN Service center was created by the presidential decree in 2012. The Service which already has 11 centers across the country provides venues for state agencies to render their services in a uniformed and coordinated manner.

Established upon the presidential decree dated to 2016, ABAD centers are aimed to support the family business operating in the field of folk arts, crafts and agriculture.

President Aliyev said that public and political situation and economic development in Azerbaijan are an example to many countries. The head of state expressed his confidence that Azerbaijan will continue successfully developing both by the end of the year and in the years to come.