Azerbaijan, Baku / corr. Trend S.Aliyev / The Head of the Center for Economic
According to him, the State investments should amount to 23-25% per year and the strengthening of AZN with regards to the USD should equal 5-6%. Under such indicators, the growth of the non-oil GDP totals 7%. According to the forecasts of the Center, it is possible to expect a decrease in inflation in 2007. The monitoring of the Center says that the inflation equaled 16.98% in the first quarter. Inflation in the food sector equaled 15.33% and in the non-food sector 11.83%. The increase of the inflation indicator in the first quarter resulted from the decision by the Tariff Council of Azerbaijan to increase the process for energy resources and communal services in the Country. It is presumed that from the middle of the year the inflation indicator will have more impact on the monetary figures.