...

Last week review (nov.14-19)

Analysis Materials 22 November 2011 11:35 (UTC +04:00)

Nov. 14

WTO Secretary General visits Azerbaijan

Secretary General of the UN World Tourism Organization (WTO) Taleb Rifai started his official visit to Azerbaijan.

Mr. Rifai mulled the cooperation between the UNWTO and Azerbaijan at a meeting with Culture and Tourism Minister Abulfaz Garayev. The sides held a news conference on the same day.

The Azerbaijani Tourism Institute hosted an event on Nov.16, during which Mr. Rifai was awarded the title of "Honorary Doctor" of the Institute.

U.S. State Department special envoy arrives in Azerbaijan

U.S. State Department Special Envoy for Eurasian Energy Richard Morningstar is on visit to Azerbaijan.

Last time, Mr. Morningstar was in Baku to attend the18th International Exhibition and Conference "Oil and Gas, Refining and Petrochemicals" held in Baku in June.

Private companies invited to partake in construction of parking lots

The Azerbaijani Transport Ministry invites private sector to partake in construction of underground parking lots in Baku.

According to the Ministry's research, Baku needs about 100 underground parking lots.

It was earlier reported that large parking lots will be opened at the city's all entrances: near to subway station Meshedi Azizbayov, Baku Bus Station, Azneft Square, Zykh side entrance, and subway station Halglar Dostlugu.

The construction projects of parking lots may have different sources of financing, including state budget assets, loans by international financial organizations such as the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank, and private sector's money.
Currently, the investment program is under preparation to develop urban transport in Baku, under which the Asian Development Bank (ADB) plans to assign a loan of $300 million. The ADB will be prepared to disburse the first tranche of the loan in 2013.

Third phase of WB project for Azerbaijani Chamber of Accounts launched

The third phase of the subcomponent of the World Bank project on reporting on the budget and corporate sectors (CAP / SAP), regarding the improvement of the activity of the Azerbaijani Chamber of Accounts has taken place, Chamber of Accounts Deputy Chairman Adil Maharramov told Trend.

In the first and second phase German specialist Axel Mennicken, engaged as a consultant, has prepared and submitted a report to us. Within the final and most important phase, he will prepare proposals to change legislation and submit a final report.

Azerbaijan significantly improves its position in WB Paying Taxes 2012 Rating

Azerbaijan has taken the 77th position in the Paying Taxes 2012 ranking of 183 countries of the world drafted by the World Bank (WB), the International Finance Corporation (IFC), and PricewaterhouseCoopers (PWC). The ranking was publicized at PWC Website.

Azerbaijan has moved forward by 26 positions in terms of simplicity of paying taxes.

The studies were carried out at the sidelines of making Doing Business 2012 Report.
Azerbaijan has taken the rating's 94th position on the consolidated tax rate, 63rd position on tax payments, and 96th position on terms of fulfillment of tax obligations.

This year the country takes the 94th position on the consolidated tax rate equivalent to 40 percent.

The country is rated 18th on consolidated tax payments, 1st on profit tax payment, and 5th on other tax payments.

Last year, Azerbaijan was rated 103rd on simplicity of tax payments, 60th on tax payments, and 128th on terms of fulfillment of tax obligations. The country then took the 95th position on the consolidated tax rate equivalent to 40.9 percent.

Nov. 15

Azerbaijan, Bulgaria expand social links

A Memorandum of Cooperation reflecting common ground was signed between Azerbaijan and Bulgaria in Baku on Monday and opens up great prospects for both countries, Azerbaijani Labour and Social Protection Minister Fizuli Alakbarov told journalists following a meeting with the Bulgarian Labour and Social Policy Minister Totyu Mladenov.

The commitments arising from the signed memorandum were discussed at the meeting.

Both countries are experiencing a transitional period in the economy and face the same problems. Each country is interested in each other's experience in addressing these problems.

It is important for both sides to improve the working of the state labour market management.

We held effective talks in this regard. We also agreed that our disabled people were treated in Bulgaria's specialist rehabilitation centers. Azerbaijan has also great potential in this area which can be used by Bulgaria.

He said a number of ministry employees were previously trained in Bulgarian training centers.

The memorandum between both countries' labour ministries was signed during the Bulgarian President Georgi Parvanov's official visit to Azerbaijan.

Azerbaijani President receives Special Envoy of US Secretary of State for Eurasian Energy

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev has received a delegation led by Special Envoy of the US Secretary of State for Eurasian Energy Richard Morningstar.

They praised the Azerbaijan-US relations, saying they were developing in various spheres, particularly in energy one. They expressed confidence for further expansion of the bilateral relations.

Morningstar said that his country supports the last agreement on energy cooperation, reached between Azerbaijan and Turkey.

Azerbaijani President endorses state program on implementation of employment strategy

President Ilham Aliyev has signed an executive order on approval of the "state program on implementation of the employment strategy of the Republic of Azerbaijan in 2011-2015".
Under the order, Ministry of Labour and Social Protection of Population will be responsible for coordination of implementation of the state program.
The Cabinet of Ministers will solve the issues resulting from the order.

Nov. 16

Azerbaijan, WB sign loan agreement to improve living conditions of IDPs

Azerbaijan and the World Bank (WB) signed a credit agreement in Baku to provide $50 million to launch a project on improving the living conditions and income of IDPs.

The agreement was signed on behalf of the Azerbaijani Government by Deputy Prime Minister Ali Hasanov and WB Baku Office Deputy Manager Said Bagirli from the World Bank.

The loan is drawn from the resources of the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD is part of the WB). The share of government involvement in the project is $28.5 million. Thus, the overall funding of the project is $78.5 million.

The principal objective of the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) Economic Development Support (EDS) Project is to help improve the living conditions of IDPs and enhance their economic opportunities and prospects for social integration.

The project builds on experience gained in similar projects of the World Bank. There have implemented more than 400 micro-projects that have covered more than 120,000 IDPs throughout Azerbaijan under these projects.

The project specifically aims at improving the living conditions of IDPs living in public buildings, providing them with permanent jobs with a view to improving the welfare of the population. Objectives will be achieved through a variety of means, including investments in small infrastructure micro-projects and services that the community of IDPs identified as high priority.

Under the project, there will be over 200 micro-projects carried out that will cover 120,000-150,000 people. It will also contribute to improving the living conditions of about 30,000 people. About 1,400 young people will be able to get training and grants to start their own business. In addition, about 1,500 micro credits will be given to the displaced to open or expand own business.

Azerbaijani President inaugurates hotel in Gakh region

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev attended the inauguration of El Resort hotel in Gakh region of Azerbaijan.

The President cut the red ribbon symbolizing the opening of the hotel.

The President was informed that modern tourist facilities are being built not only in Baku but in the regions on the basis of great interest to Azerbaijan, as well as the favorable investment climate created for local and international economic organizations. The development of tourism in the country involves expanding the hotel business and reaching a qualitatively new level. The development of tourism potential in Gakh region is also in the spotlight. From this point of view, the "El Resort" hotel complex is important. President Aliyev got acquainted with the conditions created in the hotel, a project of the conference room of the hotel which is under construction.

The Head of State was told the construction of the hotel will be completed in 2012. President Ilham Aliyev praised the work done here and wished success to the hotel staffers.

Azerbaijani President attends groundbreaking ceremony of water and sewerage system in Gakh region

President of Azerbaijan attended the groundbreaking ceremony of water and sewerage system in Gakhingiloy and Gakhbash villages of Gakh region.

President Aliyev viewed a layout of the water and sewerage system complex.

Later, the foundation laying ceremony of a new complex of water and sewer systems in Gakhingiloy and Gakhbash villages of Gakh region was held.

President Ilham Aliyev placed a capsule into the foundation and launched the grouting facility, met with construction workers and wished them success.

Azerbaijani president inaugurates bridge in Gakh region

President Ilham Aliyev inaugurated a bridge over the Hamamchay River on the way to Ilisu-Saribash in Gakh region.

The Head of State saw the flood protection general layout of the Gakh region and Alibayli village.

The Head of State viewed the flood protection working draft in Ilisu village.

President Ilham Aliyev cut the ribbon symbolizing an official opening of the bridge.

The Head of State was informed that all these projects are implemented by local companies and organizations.

President Ilham Aliyev congratulated participants on inauguration of the bridge.

Nov. 17

Azerbaijani President opens corn processing and glucose producing enterprise in Oguz

President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has today inaugurated corn processing and glucose producing enterprise in the country`s Oguz region.

The Head of State was informed that the enterprise was constructed in accordance with the State Program on socio-economic development of Azerbaijan`s regions by Corn Processing Company LLC.

President Ilham Aliyev viewed stand reflecting production process of glucose, cell, bran, vegetable protein and other ready products.

President Ilham Aliyev pressed a button to launch the facility.

President Ilham Aliyev gave his instructions and recommendations.

Minister: Azerbaijani regions must be fully self-financed

One of the key tasks of the Azerbaijani government is to make regions fully self-sustainable, Finance Minister of Azerbaijan Samir Sharifov said at a discussion of the draft of state budget and consolidated budget-2012 and of state budgets for three later years at a joint meeting of the Parliament's Committees on economic policy, social policy, defense and security, natural resources, energy and ecology, and agrarian policy.

"We repeatedly discussed the reason of decrease in local income in accordance with the tax statistics while the state pays particular attention to socioeconomic development of regions and assigns a lot of funds for these purposes," Sharifov said. "We studied this problem jointly with the Tax Ministry and found out this is just a matter of methodological approach."
Regional large taxpayers earlier passed registration at the Tax Ministry's Large Taxpayers Division based in Baku, as a result of which local incomes decreased while centralized incomes increased, he noted. "This issue has already been settled so we observe a positive change in local income now," Sharifov said.

Baku White City Project wins MIPIM Asia Awards 2011

Baku White City Project won "The Best Central and Western Asia Future Projects" of MIPIM Asia Awards 2011 (Hong Kong).

Ceremonial presentation of this prestigious award to the Baku White City Project was held on Nov.16 in Hong Kong.

Besides the Baku White City, the project of the North Caucasus Tourism Cluster "Resorts of the North Caucasus" (Russia), as well as the project "Abu Dhabi International Airport Midfield Complex" (UAE), presented by Kohn Pedersen Fox Associates Company were selected in this category.

In total 29 projects from 80 countries, including China, India, Singapore, Australia, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, UAE and Azerbaijan took part in the final of MIPIM Asia Awards 2011.

MIPIM ASIA 2011 exhibition was held on November 15-17 at the Exhibition Center of Hong Kong - Hong Kong Convention & Exhibition Center. This is the biggest investment exhibition of innovative projects in real estate market, founded in 1997 and held annually in Hong Kong. Within three days the exhibition was attended by representatives of 1,021 companies from 42 countries, including 384 investors, 146 exhibitors, the event was covered by 190 journalists.

Urban Development Project Baku White City is carried out under the Decree of the Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyev and it is one of the priority projects which makes a significant contribution to improving the environmental situation in the capital. Detailed information about the project can be found at www.bakuwhitecity.az.

Azerbaijani President opens bus station in Gakh

President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has inaugurated the Gakh-Auto`s bus station complex.

The Head of State cut a ribbon to officially open the facility.

The Head of State saw photographs depicting previous and present look of the station and auxiliary buildings of the complex.

The Head of State saw buses on the platform.

The President expressed satisfaction with the work done here.

Azerbaijani President inaugurates Green Hill Inn hotel in Shaki

President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has opened the Green Hill İnn hotel in Shaki. The Head of State cut a ribbon symbolizing the opening of the facility. President Ilham Aliyev viewed a stand reflecting a look of the hotel.

The Head of State was informed about the landscaping and rebuilding work in Shaki.


The Azerbaijani leader congratulated the hotel staffers on the opening of the facility.

Azerbaijani President opens lemonade factory in Gabala

President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev inaugurated the lemonade and water producing factory in Gabala. President Ilham Aliyev pressed a button to launch the facility.
The Head of State was informed that the construction started March, 2011.
President Aliyev viewed the production process.

The Head of State gave relevant instructions and recommendations.

Azerbaijani President inaugurates Gabala International Airport

President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev inaugurated Gabala International Airport.
President Ilham Aliyev made a speech at the event. Gabala governor Sabuhi Abdullayev thanked President Ilham Aliyev on the care and attention for development of the region.

The Head of State cut the ribbon symbolizing an official opening of the airport.
President of Azerbaijan Airlines (AZAL) Jahangir Asgarov informed President Ilham Aliyev on Gabala International Airport.

The Head of State viewed stands reflecting the layout of Gabala International Airport and reconstruction of Gabala-Agdash road.

President Ilham Aliyev congratulated the staff on the opening of the international airport and wished them success.

Nov. 18

Azerbaijan, Russia continue talks on Baku-Novorossiysk pipeline

Azerbaijan and Russia are discussing the possibility of increasing the oil transportation volume via the Baku-Novorossiysk pipeline, RIA Novosti reported with reference to Industry and Energy Minister Natig Aliyev, who addressed a conference "the 20th anniversary of the new history of Russian oil' in Moscow.

He said the future volumes will be at least 5 million tons a year.

Azerbaijan is ready to increase supplies of its own oil through Russia via the Baku-Novorossiysk pipeline, if the corresponding agreement will be amended to allow non-Azerbaijani oil to be transported via this pipeline, Mr. Aliyev said earlier.

Today, the agreement between Azerbaijan and Russia for oil transportation clearly provides that only oil of Azerbaijani origin can be transported via the Baku-Novorossiysk oil pipeline. Canceling this item will make it possible to transport oil from other countries, such as Kazakhstan or Turkmenistan that today is being transported via Azerbaijan.

Azerbaijani President opens Qafqaz Sport Hotel in Gabala

President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has inaugurated the Qafqaz Sport Hotel in Gabala.

The Head of State cut a ribbon symbolizing the opening of the facility, and then toured it.

The President cut the ribbon symbolizing the opening of the hotel, and got acquainted with tourist facility. President Aliyev familiarized with the conditions created in the hotel rooms. The President praised the work done here and wished success to the hotel staffers.

Azerbaijani Transport Ministry holds final meeting on bridge project

The final meting on KOICA Project envisioning composition of a feasibility study of construction of a bridge across the Baku Bay was held. The meeting was held at the Azerbaijani Transport Ministry.

The feasibility study was composed at the price of $1.6 million grant assigned by KOICA. The feasibility study had been drafted by Korea's |Dongsung Engineering, Chungsuk Engineering and Dodam E&C since July 2010.

The drafted document includes basic concepts and directions of construction, particularly, such technical aspects as designing standards, results of engineering-geological researches, route planning, etc.

The Korean specialists offered a BOT - Building-Operation-Transfer - construction method. In addition, they stressed the importance of public private partnership.
The Korean Agency for International Cooperation (KOICA) is the state body of the Republic of Korea. KOICA has 43 representative offices in partner countries.

The bridge is preliminarily valued at $1.8 billion.

WB Social Security Program consultant visits Baku

Hernando Kuinteron, the consultant for social security programs arrived in Baku to check whether the targeted social assistance (TSA) in Azerbaijan corresponds to the international standards, the Press Service of the Labor and Social Security Ministry of Azerbaijan told Trend.

As part of the visit, it is planned to develop a program, legislative base (social welfare policy) of TSA, develop an information control system (ICS) and social welfare issues automated control system, and make assessments of control functions and verification of social assistance programs.

The international consultant, after having met officials of the Ministry and held meetings at social security centers, assessed the program under implementation in Azerbaijan as one of most advanced social programs.

The first agreement of comprehensive study of the model of social security program under implementation in Azerbaijan, and on exploration of opportunity of using it in other countries was concluded at international forum titled "Development of Sustained Social Security Programs in Countries with Low Incomes" in Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa on May 30-June 3.

More than 200 representatives from 54 countries and influential international organizations took part in the forum.

The Azerbaijani delegation, in report titled "Targeted Social Assistance as Efficient Instrument in Social Security System Development in Azerbaijan", provided information about public and economic reforms under implementation in Azerbaijan; steps designed to alleviate poverty; achieved results; TSA Program; and other social programs to be implemented in future.

The participants of the forum voiced their interest in TSA program under implementation in Azerbaijan; and World Bank social security division's employees said the Azerbaijani model is one of most perfect of the existing ones.

Latest

Latest