Azerbaijan, Baku, March 16 / Trend I. Khalilova /
A balanced socio-economic policy conducted by Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev in 2009 promoted the dynamic development of Azerbaijan as in previous years, Prime-Minister Artur Rasizade said while discussing the Cabinet of Ministers' report on the basis of socio-economic development of 2009 in the Azerbaijani parliament.
"Despite the global financial and economic crisis, Azerbaijan maintained macroeconomic stability last year. Real growth and prosperity of the country were ensured", Rasizade said.
Azerbaijan holds the highest position among the world countries on the main economic index - GDP for several years.
"Quantitative and qualitative changes achieved as a result of Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev's successful policy have laid the foundation for the transition of economy to a new stage of development", Prime-Minister said.
The Azerbaijani government has taken corresponding actions to maintain macroeconomic stability, the competitiveness of production, strengthening of monetary policy, solving of social problems, protect the poor, stimulate business activity of entrepreneurship.
As a result of diversification of Azerbaijani economy, growth in non-oil sector of the country has been shown, Rasizade said.
According to him, such leading international financial organizations like IMF, World Bank, EBRD appreciated anti-crisis measures held in Azerbaijan. Azerbaijan maintained its leading position in the latest report of World Bank and IFC Doing Business.
The World Economic Forum advanced Azerbaijan on the 51-st place on Growth Competitiveness Index. It is the highest index among the CIS countries.
During the reporting period, real GDP growth was 9.3 percent to 34.6 billion manat, about 3.2 percent - in non-oil sector. Inflation fell to 1.5 percent.
"As in previous years, the government paid special attention to solve social issues", Rasizade said. Among the taken measures, he highlighted the growth of average wages by 8,6 percent to 298 manat, the labor pension - 104 manat. A minimal wage and the basic pension amounted to 75 manat.
About 180 million manat was allocated from the state budget for targeted social assistance of 654,000 people last year.