TODAY.AZ / Politics

President puts accent on industrialization and infrastructure projects in regions

26 September 2017 [17:13] - TODAY.AZ

By Azernews


By Amina Nazarli

The industrialization, infrastructure modernization and human capital were the key topics of the recent trip of President Ilham Aliyev to the eastern-southern regions of the country.

Within the visit to Neftchala and Salyan regions, both lying south of the Kura River, President Aliyev viewed cotton plantations, attended opening of several facilities and inaugurated the newly-constructed highways.

The main accent of President Aliyev’s speech after touring of the newly-opened Neftchala Industrial District was the policy of industrialization, which according to the head of state is being successfully implemented in Azerbaijan.

The President stressed the need to take into account creation of industrial zones in other regions of the country when drafting next year’s public investment program and urged entrepreneurs and businessmen living and operating in the regions, to actively participate in the creation of industrial zones.

"The investments invested in the production areas here [the opened Neftchala Industrial District] are made by the private sector. Of course, as I have already noted, the state will constantly provide its support. The state chose this territory, implemented infrastructure projects, built modular structures, mobilized entrepreneurs, and allocated loans on preferential terms so that they can do a good job," the head of state said.

The government allocated 20 million manats for the creation of the Neftchala Industrial District, while the private sector invested 45 million manats through loans and own expenses, and this“shows the manifestation of public-private partnership”, the President said

“There is great interest from the region’s entrepreneurs. The products, which are produced here and will be produced, will help us to replace the import. Now our main goal is to strengthen local production and reduce dependence on imports,” he said.

The creation of this industrial district is actually the beginning of a new stage of work done in this direction, said President Aliyev, pointing to large industrial centers opening in Baku, Sumgayit and Ganja.

Now a large industrial zone is being constructed in Mingachevir city, said Ilham Aliyev, noting that the implementation of such projects in small towns is also very significant.

 After the big cities, the first industrial zone was created in Neftchala region. In the near future two more industrial zones will start functioning in the Masalli and Hajigabul regions. 

The largest enterprise of the Neftchala Industrial District is the joint automobile plant of the "Az?rma?" - "Iran Khodro", with a capacity of about 10,000 cars per year. The project worth $15 million will produce four Iranian car brands – Dena, Runna, Soren and Samand starting from 2018.

“As a result of the activities of this plant, we will to a certain extent eliminate dependence on imported cars and, at the same time, export opportunities will be created,” he said, praising that the creation of this plant is a manifestation of the Iranian-Azerbaijani partnership.

Following Neftchala, the head of state headed to Salyan, where visiting this region for the eighth time of his presidency.

Here, the head of state opened a new rural road Chukhanli-Ganjali-Piratman-Parcha Khalaj-Seyidan, which will play a very important role linking several villages.

“Where there is a road, there is development. Roads are socially-oriented project and economic projects,” the President said, adding that road projects will continue to be successfully implemented in the future.

In accordance with the state programs of social and economic development of the regions, the state targeted measures to modernize the road infrastructure in recent years. The volume of work on the construction and reconstruction of roads is growing year by year.

Currently, along with the investments of international financial structures connected with the reconstruction and improvement of the country's road transport infrastructure, the country implements large-scale projects at the expense of the state budget. Now the main focus is directed on repair and reconstruction of internal roads connecting villages and settlements in the regions.

President Aliyev emphasized that the road infrastructure is related to the development of agriculture, since farmers find it difficult to supply their products to markets. 

Saying that important steps are being taken in connection with agriculture in Salyan, the President noted that work on the restoration of cotton-growing is well underway.

The cotton industry has remained very insignificant until 2016, when the state announced the sector among the priorities to boost the non-oil economy. As cotton is a valuable money crop, the state has set a course to restore the industry and now is providing huge support to this sphere.

“Cotton has been planted on 7,000 hectares. This is a great achievement, and steps should be taken to increase industrial production,” he said.

Currently, cotton is grown in more than 20 regions of the country with a 10-time increase in just two years. In 2015, cotton was sown only on 17,000 hectares, while this year the area has reached 136,000 hectares.

As part of the one-day visit President Aliyev also launched the 110/35/6 kV Neftchala substation, viewed newly-renovated Neftchala Central District Hospital, as well as attended ceremony to supply water to cultivated lands and visited cotton plantation.

In Salyan, the head of state attended the opening of the 110/35/10 kV Garagashli substation, inaugurated new building of Salyan city secondary school No 2 and Flag Museum as well as toured seawater desalination complex.

URL: http://www.today.az/news/politics/165172.html

Print version

Views: 1709

Connect with us. Get latest news and updates.

Recommend news to friend

  • Your name:
  • Your e-mail:
  • Friend's name:
  • Friend's e-mail: