POLITICS
AMERICAN CNN-INTERNATIONAL BROADCAST ON ECONOMIC BOOM IN AZERBAIJAN
Washington, July 15 (AZERTAC). The influential US-based CNN-International on 12 July aired a report dedicated to Azerbaijan.
A brief video report of the CNN “World View” program made by Sevinj Osmanqizi of Azerbaijani TV station ANS deals with the effects of Azerbaijan`s economic boom.
The clip shows the massive Sadarak shopping center outside Baku, where a collection of ramshackle market stalls, many of them trading illegally, has been transformed into a modern shopping center with convenient transport links for shoppers from Georgia, Iran and Russia.
The reporter compares Sadarak with the recently opened Park Bulvar shopping center on Baku`s seafront boulevard. Although the center backs onto Neftchilar Avenue, home to exclusive designer boutiques such as Versace, Park Bulvar`s prices are still affordable for many people.
Despite the global economic downturn, Azerbaijan managed to finish last year with double digit growth, the reporter underlines.
“With poverty dropped to a record low of 20% and wages doubled, retail and paid services are flourishing in Azerbaijan,” the reporter says.
“Fostering competition and a market based economy is exactly what Azerbaijan is trying to achieve while making the most of the oil boom... The biggest challenge of all is how to make Azerbaijan`s economy diverse and sustainable when the oil boom is gone,” the reporter concludes.
The “World View” being one of the long-standing programs in CNN, has been televised since 1987. Since 1988, the program has prepared several programs on Azerbaijan realities. Among them also was the Armenia-Azerbaijan, Nagorno Karabakh conflict, the Khojaly genocide, 20 January tragedy and other themes.
The clip can be seen on CNN`s website.
It was broadcast several times by CNN between 10 and 13 July.