Dear students, friends,

I warmly congratulate you on the opening of the new building of the Azerbaijan State Economic University. I wish you health, success. Today, the University has a fine and significant day. A new remarkable building is put into service for students. Today, I have in details familiarized with this beautiful building and was convinced that it meets the highest world standards, in full sense of this word. Its appearance, and the main - the established accommodation is beautiful and meets the modern requirements. It is very important, as our country is modernized, integrates into the world community, the economic potential of Azerbaijan grows. We very much want, that the young generation was trained in the conditions meting the advanced world standards, and they possessed knowledge and were competent.

Today in higher educational institutions of Azerbaijan there is a greater creative work. Recently, we have laid the foundation of new therapeutic clinic of the Azerbaijan State Medical University. The same processes occur in other higher schools. That is, the sphere of education in Azerbaijan as a whole is modernized, updated. On the one hand, the material base of education, and on another, it becomes stronger, the educational process is modernized. We should pay to this sphere huge attention. The leading role in strengthening of material base of the economic opportunities of Azerbaijan, plays the yearly growing budget, increase in investment charges. Certainly, the state policy consists, first of all, of the big attention paid to the sphere of education. And here improvement of educational process, certainly, depends on you - teachers, educators. I would like, that strengthening of material-technical base and modernization of the teaching process went in parallel. Only in this case we shall achieve the target. Students will study in good conditions, there will be good operating conditions of teachers, and of course, the young generation possessing knowledge. In this new building of Economic University it is possible to achieve all. On example of this building, it is possible to tell, that strategy of development of Azerbaijan in the field of education as a whole finds its reflection in life.

Wide place has been allocated to information-communication technologies. Today, I have communicated on the video bridge with the Azerbaijani youth, the students studying at the Moscow State University, Bilkend University, and also with students of Azerbaijan Technological University functioning in Ganja. That is, all these are fine opportunities. Familiarized with the library, where you can contact with leading educational institutions of the world. Thus, students studying here, can watch all processes occurring in the world.

The major question is that we benefited the most positive experience in world, applied it in Azerbaijan and adjusted it to the existent situation. The new generation, thus, will become professionals. I once again congratulate you with this remarkable achievement. I am thankful to the heads of University for such activity.

Education is our future, is the major sphere to define our prospects for years ahead. It is not casually that we give great attention now to the field of education in Azerbaijan.

In secondary schools, for last years, have been constructed more than 1200 schools, hundreds schools are under repair, and this process will go on in following year, too. At all schools, there is a process of computerization, so that children since young years were familiar with a computer and did not feel difficulties subsequently, during admission to higher educational institutions. Greater work also should be done in the field of development of educational process in higher schools.

I wish to reiterate, that I am satisfied with the work done in this sphere as a whole, but reforms, certainly, should continue. The most advanced higher educational institution of world scale never is satisfied with the reached successes. It is constant process, the sphere constantly demanding reforms. Mastering all innovations of scientific and technical progress occurring in the world, establishment of communications with the advanced higher schools, certainly, will play the important role in development of educational process.

Successfully steps we take in the field of international cooperation, and have joined the Bologna process. In the framework of Bologna process, we realize exchange of students more actively should be carried out. The Azerbaijan youth should study in leading higher educational institutions of the world. As you know, for the organization of this work, a special Order recently has been signed, and trhis year, the first students will be sent to the leading higher schools of the world. They will receive education due to public funds and return to the country. Even if some of them will not come back, all the same, they will be envoys of Azerbaijan and sooner or later will return home as our people is people-patriot, all we very much love our native land, and our youth is educated in patriotic spirit. It is the beginning of the big development. I am convinced that, we shall achieve solution of all forthcoming problems. In Azerbaijan, there will be very professional staff meeting all modern requirements. Very big attention is paid to this sphere.

As known, the processes occurring today in the world, testify, that economically developed countries hold firm position in the world, courageously pursue their policy. Economic independence contributes to political independence of our country. Economically independent country can independently carry out the policy, and we see it on example of Azerbaijan.

Possibly, we need professional managers possessing knowledge and well knowing the business environment in the world.

Economic development of Azerbaijan is so intensive that in all spheres we need new personnel. As known, in some cases on posts of managers in the foreign companies functioning in Azerbaijan or in the Azerbaijan companies, specialists are invited from abroad. Probably, in the initial stage t s necessary, nevertheless, I consider, that on leading posts there should be Azerbaijani personnel. For this purpose, they need the high level of knowledge, they should know well, what is such management of business on global scale and to show the professionalism. The Azerbaijan State Economic University has huge merits in this business and still will bring greater contribution.

Today, the rector has informed me, that at the labor fairs to graduates of university the people show great interest. Both the state structures, and the private companies, certainly, very much willingly involve for work young experts possessing knowledge and who are competent. Today, economic growth in Azerbaijan has reached such level, that the wages raise, opportunities of business improve, the investment environment develops. You know well that that now economic growth in our country has no analogue in the world. Our problem consists in the further increase of this remarkable dynamics. Realization of economic programs, successful continuation of political lne simultaneously should be accompanied by preparation of the young, professional staff. Only in this case, we can achieve the target.

WE have the richest deposits of oil and gas. Initiated by the great leader Heydar Aliyev and successfully continued oil strategy has brought to Azerbaijan remarkable results both in the country, and on the international cooperation. Our economic successes also influence on the solution of social affairs. Alongside with it, it is necessary to give big attention to humanitarian sphere, first of all, to education. I want to reiterate that, I am absolutely convinced that our future is connected with the education. Oil and gas are blessing granted by Supreme and which we successfully and skillfully use. But sooner or later, natural resources will be exhausted, and during long years after that steady development of our country will be provided by knowledge and with talent. If to address to experience of the most developed countries, it is possible to be convinced that the leading role in this plays knowledge, the scientific and technical progress, new technology, but not oil and gas. And we should go that way. We are ready to it. WE have such remarkable educational institutions.

Today, big attention is paid to information-communication technologies, Azerbaijan leads in region in this area. That is, there are all opportunities. In our country, there has been established remarkable atmosphere, carried out expedient work. All country, both Baku and the regions, are updated in all spheres and all directions. This remarkable day I together with you am pleased to this updating. I wish to repeat, that all we achieved very much pleases me. I wish, that all higher educational institutions of Azerbaijan were at this level.

But it does not mean that you can be satisfied with the done work. We should more confident go forward. All Azerbaijani people today sees this remarkable, hard work. Our country dynamically develops, and each person makes his contribution to this development. In particular, teachers, young generation. In this case, the future of our country becomes brighter and successful.

Once again I cordially congratulate you on this remarkable event. I wish you success. Thanks.