President: Azerbaijan in top three for overall development index [UPDATE]

By Azernews

By Ayya Lmahamad

President Ilham Aliyev has said that Azerbaijan is at the forefront of developing countries in terms of overall progress.

He made the remarks while receiving newly appointed heads of Baku's Nizami and Narimanov districts, Joshgun Jabrayilov and Elgin Habibullayev, and Kurdamir region executive head Elkhan Ibrahimov via video.

“The main tasks have been fulfilled, issues related to infrastructure, repair and construction of social facilities, creation of public places and jobs, elimination of unemployment, i.e. all these indicators are also recorded by leading international financial institutions and, according to the overall development index, Azerbaijan is at the forefront of developing countries, in the top three,” he said.

The president noted that large-scale construction and improvement work, as well as extensive reforms, have been carried out throughout the country in recent years. He emphasized that the adoption of the first State Program for Regional Socioeconomic Development in 2004 and similar programs in subsequent years significantly improved the situation in the regions.

“The revival and development in the regions have enabled large-scale work to be carried out in all regions of Azerbaijan,” he added.

Servants of people

Aliyev emphasized to the officials the importance of maintaining constant contact with the people, learning about their problems from them, and not remaining indifferent.

“This is the task I set before all officials. Because every civil servant is a servant of the people, including the president. I have said this many times in my speeches and when appointing heads of executive authority,” he said.

The president stressed that “no one can be above the law, everyone is equal before the law”.

Employment o war veterans

“The issue of employment of our children who fought heroically in the Patriotic War is also being resolved on my instructions,” he said.

He noted that the Labour and Social Security Ministry is carrying out large-scale work in this area, adding that the employment marathon is conducted.

“I have recommended that entrepreneurs, first of all, consider our young people who distinguished themselves in the Patriotic War. Of course, I have set this task before government agencies,” he said.

The president added that various measures should be taken to improve their vocational skills.

Economic development

“As a result of the development of the private sector in recent years, we have achieved great successes. We are now able to provide the basis of our gross domestic product, most of it, by the private sector, the non-oil sector,” he said.

Noting that the private sector bears greater responsibilities, he stated that it should focus on liberated lands and establish businesses there. He stated that they should be active wherever they operate and that opportunities to invest and create jobs should be available to them.

The president also stated that, while much progress has been made, the country still faces many challenges, and the resolution of these challenges on the ground is largely dependent on government officials.

He went on to say that all necessary steps are being taken and that the financial resources generated by the country's successful policies provide such opportunities.

“We are now one of a handful of countries in the world that does not depend on anyone, is completely economically independent and does not need any loans,” he said.

Aliyev stated that the country's foreign debt accounted for only 17 percent of GDP last year, but he ordered to reduce it to 15,12,10 percent this year.

“It would be wrong to say that we do not have financial problems, but at the same time, we are doing all this work ourselves. In particular, we have not received a single manat of assistance or loan from anyone to revive Karabakh and Zangazur. In other words, this gives reason to say that the problems can be resolved only if work on the ground is properly organized,” he said.