Azerbaijan, Baku, Jan. 19 / Trend N.Ismayilova /
The growth of Azerbaijani economy has continued in 2009. GDP real growth for crisis year turned out to be very high 9.3 percent, the finance minister Samir Sharifov said in a meeting of the Cabinet of Ministers dedicated to the socio-economic development in 2009, which was presided over by Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev
"The GDP per capita increased by 7.9 percent to 3.917 manat or $4.874, and average salary increased by 6.8 percent to 298 manat, despite the global financial crisis," Sharifov said
According to Sharifov, the national currency rate remained stable and inflation ratio hit 1.5 percent.
In 2009, the public allocated 2.903 billion manat out of the budget for financing social actions, including 2.763 billion manat out of its current expenses which is higher by 19.5 percent or 450 million manat than the index in 2008
In 2009 expenses for financing social protection and social security increased by 24.6 percent including education by 17.2 percent, health by 16.2 percent, culture, art, information, physical education by 12.9 percent as compared to 2008.
Expenses for agrarian sector and environment protection increased by 38.5 percent, housing and communal property by 24.9 percent, national services by 14.7 percent, the maintenance of the prosecutors, security, law enforcement, judicial authorities by 21.5 percent
According to Sharifov, the public budget allocated 70 million manat to strengthen Azerbaijani investment companies. In 2009, the National Fund for Entrepreneurship Development allocated privileged loans to 2,100 business facilities worth 130 million manat which is higher 1.5 times the same index in 2008. The public budget allocated loans worth 70 million manat for the national fund. The state budget financed the non-oil sector due to the privileged loans 94 large, including 52 projects for production, processing and infrastructure and 99.2 percent was allocated for the country's regions