Baku, March 9 (AZERTAC). President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has chaired a meeting on socio-economic development of Baku and its settlements.

The meeting took place in the Baku city administration. 

The Head of State first viewed a photo stand highlighting ongoing reconstruction work across the capital.

In his opening remarks, the Head of State stressed that turning Baku into a megalopolis was the number one priority for the government. He said a comprehensive work was carried out to improve Baku`s road and transport infrastructure, power, gas supply, heating and sewer systems and other utilities.

The President also praised land improvement and greening work in the capital. President Aliyev said considerable work was underway to completely overhaul cultural facilities, praising the fact Icheri Sheher (Inner City) was enlisted in the UNESCO cultural heritage. 

The Head of State noted construction of the Heydar Aliyev Center in Baku was “one of the unique projects not only in our country but also on the international scale”.

As the Head of State mentioned a special state program was on the drawing board, adding reconstruction work in Baku would be carried out on a larger scale. 

Head of the Baku city administration Hajibala Abutalybov highlighted what had been over the last few years to boost socio-economic development of the capital and its settlements. He praised the Heydar Aliyev Foundation`s contribution to reconstruction work in Baku and its settlements. Abutalybov also highlighted the existing problems and made several proposals for the new state program. 

Other speakers praised the Azerbaijani First Lady, President of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, UNESCO and ISESCO Goodwill Ambassador Mehriban Aliyeva`s personal contribution to carrying out reconstruction work across Baku and its settlements.

In his closing remarks, President Aliyev instructed officials to take - within three years - the measures highlighted in the new state program on socio-economic development of Baku and its settlements.

The Head of State stressed the importance of continuing the modernization of power-, gas- and water-supply systems and sewer system of the capital. The head of State also gave certain instructions on modernization of the inter-settlement and settlement roads.

The President touched upon the issue of registering private houses, saying the problem had to be dealt with as soon as possible “without any negative facts and based on a concrete and transparent mechanism”.

The Head of State emphasized the necessity of expanding reconstruction of educational, healthcare and sports facilities in Baku settlements, and continuing the reconstruction of cultural facilities and religious monuments.

On environmental issues, President Aliyev gave instructions to enlarge the scale of land improvement and greening work in Baku and its settlements, and lay forest belts in the areas adjacent to the capital.

The President highlighted the White City project, saying it would be one of the world-level projects to be implemented in Baku.

President Aliyev also touched upon the issues of increasing the population`s employment in the Baku settlements, restoring traditional fields of economy, creating a mechanism of loan allocation for small and middle entrepreneurship, attracting foreign investment and increasing the involvement of the Azerbaijan Investment Company.

The President said measures were underway to combat an artificial hike in price of the everyday products manufactured in Azerbaijan.

The Head of State also gave instructions on quick preparation of the state program of socio-economic development of Baku and its settlements.

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