ECONOMY
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT MINISTER GIVES PRESS CONFERENCE ON RESULTS OF SOCIO-ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN AZERBAIJAN
President Ilham Aliyev`s resolute steps helped achieve great accomplishments in the socio-economic development of Azerbaijan, improve drastically the living standards of the population, Minister of Economic Development Heydar Babayev told a news conference on Friday at the headquarters of the New Azerbaijan Party.
He said it has already been four years since President Ilham Aliyev assumed his office.
Continuing national leader Heydar Aliyev`s strategic development course, President Ilham Aliyev took resolute steps, which resulted in achieving great accomplishments in the socio-economic development of Azerbaijan, increasing the country`s defense potential, strengthening macroeconomic stability, improving the population`s living standards and Azerbaijan`s becoming a leading nation in the region.
During President Ilham Aliyev`s tenure, Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan main export pipeline was brought on stream. In addition, Baku-Tbilisi-Erzerum gas pipeline was successfully built and an agreement on building the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway was reached.
Minister Babayev said Azerbaijan is one of the world`s leading countries in terms of GDP growth rates.
Creation of new jobs in the country increased employment rate and dramatically reduced the level of poverty. Poverty rate declined from 49% in 2003 to 20% in 2007.
Implementation of the state program on socio-economic development of regions helped develop infrastructure in the regions, establish processing and production enterprises, create new jobs and improve people`s welfare.
Under the Heydar Aliyev Foundation-funded “New School to Renewing Azerbaijan” program, over 230 schools and 29 boarding schools and children`s homes were built.
The average salaries have made up 177,6 manats for the past nine months of this year, up 28,2% on the same period last year. According to the forecast, it is going to reach 182 manats by the end of the year.
In conclusion, Heydar Babayev responded to journalists` questions.