IMF: "Azerbaijan will experience 12% economic growth and 9% inflation in 2009"

Head of IMF mission Valeria Fikera told a press conference that inflation rate on late 2009  will make 9%, according to experts' forecasts.

"The preliminary estimates of the non-oil sector growth rates is about 6%, which is lower than the previous year, but as the same indicator is predicted to 0% in the world scale, this is quite satisfactory", said Fikera.

She noted that the forecasts will be reviewed in June when the influence of the international situation on economy is defined.

"We expect growth in agriculture, infrastructure, as the demand for production in these spheres will grow, yet in such spheres as industry, especially heavy industry no growth is expected", said Fikera.

As for the dependence of country's economy on the oil sector, according to the head of the IMF mission, the government undertook several measures in this direction, but, as a rule, their result is seen within some time. "We consider that such reforms as registration of entrepreneurs by the "single window" system, reforms in the Customs Code will be effective in some time.

We consider that the government will continue economic diversification, whose main component is the programs of state investments, including improvement in road economy, water supply, electric energy, sewerage system, which is important for raising investments to the country", concluded Fikera.

/Day.Az/