Azerbaijan, Baku, Dec 8 /Trend N.Ismayilova/
Azerbaijan is directing $4.6 billion towards the refugee problem and the homeless, Economic Development Minister Shahin Mustafayev said at an international conference 20 Years of Independence Achievements and Challenges.
"The State Oil Fund of Azerbaijan has already allocated $1 billion from the fund," Mr Mustafayev said.
He noted that the National Fund for Entrepreneurship Support under the ministry had allocated credits on favourable terms to the total sum of 9.6 million manat on projects for 660 refugees and the homeless. The purpose of the money is to promote the opening of 1541 new workplaces.
Mr Mustafayev noted that 12 camps had been destroyed and the poverty rate amongst the homeless had decreased by 4.1 times as a result of the work being done to improve their living standards.
"The overall poverty rate has dropped by 5.4 times from 49 per cent in 2001 to 9.1 per cent by the end of 2010," he said.
He noted that nearly one million new work places were created and more than 40,000 new enterprises were opened in the country since 2004 and if the unemployment rate was 9.7 per cent in 2003, it had declined to 5.6 per cent in 2010.
Official exchange rate on Dec 8 is 0.7864 AZN/USD.