Sept. 10
Azerbaijan becomes active participant of International Tunnelling and Underground Space Association
The transport sector plays an important role in ensuring traffic in large and growing cities, among which is Baku, head of Azertunelmetrotikinti JSC, the president of the Association of Azerbaijan tunnel builders, Shaig Efendiyev, said at the opening of Tunnels and Underground Infrastructure of Urban Areas International Congress and Exhibition in Baku.
He said the development of underground space is important in the present circumstances. Creation of underground shopping centers, cinemas and other facilities in the service sector is topical.
A great role in the development of underground space belongs to construction of new subway lines. In Azerbaijan, a lot of attention is given to the expansion of lines and the creation of new metro stations, as indicated by the approved 20-year state program of Baku Metro development.
International Tunnelling And Underground Space Association head In-Mo Lee said that the Association of Azerbaijan tunnel builders became a member of this international organization 1.5 years ago, but in that short period of time has become its active participant, as evidenced by holding of such important event in Baku.
Holding of the congress in Baku will strengthen and develop relations between the members of the organization, and will allow to achieve good results in the further development of this industry.
Deputy PM: Underground development is one of factors of transport solutions of Baku
Azerbaijan successfully and in time will complete the implementation of the 20-year program for the development of the Baku Metro, Deputy Prime Minister Abid Sharifov said on Monday at the opening of the Tunnelling and underground infrastructure of cities International Congress and Exhibition.
"If in the last 60 years the number of metro stations in Baku reached 23, and the length of underground tunnels - 80 kilometers, this program involves the construction in the next 20 years of additional 53 stations and 165 kilometers. Initial pace of implementation of the program adopted in 2011, says that it will be successfully implemented as planned," Sharifov said.
He said the development of the metro will be one of the factors that will solve the traffic problems in the capital.
Sharifov welcomed on behalf of the President the congress participants and wished them success in their future activities.
Kiev to host 25th meeting of GUAM National Coordinators
On September 13, Kiev will host the 25th meeting of the GUAM Council of National Coordinators. Georgia will be represented by Deputy Foreign Minister Nikoloz Vashakidze at the meeting, Deputy Foreign Minister Nino Kalandadze said at a briefing.
"A number of regional issues within GUAM were discussed, but with this training issues that are important to the GUAM meeting, Ministerial Council, scheduled in New York during the UN General Assembly. Aspects of cooperation with partner countries and issues of current projects will be determined," Kalandadze said.
GUAM was established by post-Soviet countries in 1997 during a summit of the European Union in Strasbourg. In 1999, Uzbekistan joined the organization, and after 4 years withdrew. In 2006 at the first summit in Kiev decision was to declare GUAM an international organization with a new name "Organization for Democracy and Economic Development - GUAM."
President: Switzerland interested in strengthening of economic relations with Azerbaijan
Relations between Azerbaijan and Switzerland are developing, Swiss President Eveline Widmer-Schlumpf said at a meeting with Azerbaijani Finance Minister Samir Sharifov. The president expressed her country's interest in further strengthening of economic cooperation, particularly in the energy sector, the Azerbaijani Finance Ministry said.
Azerbaijani Finance Minister Samir Sharifov and the Azerbaijani Central Bank chairman Elman Rustamov took part in the jubilee meeting of the member countries of the Swiss constituency in the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank. Enlarged meeting on the 20th anniversary of the founding of the Swiss group was held in Montreux (Switzerland).
The meeting discussed the current state and future directions of cooperation between the countries represented in the constituency - Switzerland, Azerbaijan, Poland, Serbia, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan.
At a meeting with the Vice President for the World Bank's Europe and Central Asia region Philippe Le Houerou socio-economic development of Azerbaijan, sustainable economic growth and diversification of the economy, the current status of the projects financed by the World Bank, and the main directions of Country Partnership Strategy were mentioned.
Sept. 11
Azerbaijani ministry introduces network analysis system
The Azerbaijani Communications and IT Ministry's Information Center has completed implementing Symantec Security Information Manager solutions (SSIM), Symantec company sales director in Kazakhstan, Central Asia and South Caucasus, Alexander Yakunin told media.
The system allows to monitor and analyze all the processes in the network, allowing to rapidly make decisions to curb the negative aspects.
The system allows to document all of the events and store them during several years.
Yakunin said that the first step was taken, mainly in the monitoring. The next stage of the project is to expand the system by adding proactive protection.
"This will allow taking appropriate actions based on monitoring data," he said.
Sept. 12
Azerbaijan, Turkey sign eight bilateral documents
The second meeting of Azerbaijan-Turkey High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council was followed by a ceremony of signing the Azerbaijan-Turkey documents in Gabala.
President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and Prime Minister of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdogan signed a protocol of the second meeting of Azerbaijan-Turkey High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council.
State committee: Int'l support required to develop Azerbaijani securities market
The Azerbaijani State Securities Committee has submitted a new version of the bill on "Securities market" to the government, the committee chairman Rufat Aslanli said at the signing ceremony of the technical assistance of the Azerbaijani capital market modernization project.
"One of the state priorities is to bring the capital market to a new level," he said. "A state program was adopted to develop the Azerbaijani securities market in 2011-2020. The program gives its first results."
According to the state program, a new law is expected to be adopted in 2012 to regulate the capital market that meets international best practice. It is planned to create an optimal system of issuing and registering the securities and introducing an International Securities Identification Number (ISIN code) in 2013.
Aslanli said that it is important to have international support and assistance while implementing such a large program. From this point of view, it is important to have the Azerbaijani capital market modernization project.
"An operator has been chosen to execute the project," he added. "We will begin implementing the project more widely in late September."
Leyla Aliyeva: Relations between Azerbaijan and Russia based on mutual respect, trust and openness
The Azerbaijan-Russia Bridge of Friendship was inaugurated in Astrakhan, Russia, on Wednesday, Trend special correspondent reports.
Prior to the ceremony, event participants laid flowers at the monument to national leader Heydar Aliyev in the center of Astrakhan.
The Heydar Aliyev Foundation Vice-President, head of the Azerbaijani Youth Organization of Russia (AYOR), Leyla Aliyeva, attended the ceremony.
Attending the ceremony were the state officials of Azerbaijan and Administration of Astrakhan region, Azerbaijani MPs, representatives of the Azerbaijani community of Astrakhan and the city residents.
Aliyeva delivered a speech at the bridge's inauguration. She thanked the event organizers for warm reception in the land of Astrakhan.
She said the relations between Azerbaijan and Russia are based on mutual respect, trust and openness.
Azerbaijan has always been a country where different cultures and civilizations exist, she said.
She said today Azerbaijan accounts for more than 70 percent of the South Caucasus economy.
Sept. 13
Azerbaijan, Netherlands should make efforts to strengthen bilateral relations
The growing economy of Azerbaijan is attracting more and more attention, head of the Dutch delegation Goveraet Arno said in Baku at the opening of the Azerbaijani-Dutch Business Forum.
"Dutch companies have been operating in the oil and gas sector of Azerbaijan since 1992 and the two countries should make every effort to develop and strengthen bilateral relations in other areas of the economy," Goveraet said.
The Azerbaijani-Dutch Business Forum was organised by the Azerbaijan Export and Investment Promotion Foundation (AZPROMO).
The business forum was attended by about 60 entrepreneurs, 48 of them representatives of Azerbaijani companies that operate in the oil and gas industries, architectural and infrastructural, water and underground infrastructure, construction and engineering, logistics, ICT, milk production, production of optical products, security systems and waste management.
AZPROMO was established by the Azerbaijani government in 2003. The supreme governing body of the foundation is the Board of Trustees comprising representatives from government, the private sector and the international community.
Initially the foundation was created to support the attraction of foreign direct investments, but since 2005 its functions have included the promotion of exports of local products and services.
Azerbaijan, Switzerland sign agreement on capital market modernisation
An agreement covering the Swiss government's technical assistance for a modernisation project of the Azerbaijani capital market has been signed in Baku.
The agreement was signed by chairman of the Azerbaijani State Committee for Securities Rufat Aslanli and Swiss ambassador to Azerbaijan Sabine Ulmann Shaban on behalf of the government of the Swiss Confederation.
The Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO) has approved an allocation of technical assistance worth $1.6 million within the agreement.
Technical assistance will be rendered on two components of the project: renewing and strengthening the legal and regulatory framework and developing new financial tools of promoting supply on the market.
'The capital market modernisation project will ensure the necessary technical and organisational support for the implementation of the state programme of development of the securities market in 2011-2020', the statement said.
The World Bank (WB) has provided Azerbaijan with a loan of $12 million towards the project. It will be funded through the loans of the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD is part of the WB Group).
While implementing the project, special attention will be paid to the improvement of the legal base at the next stage, market infrastructure and completion of the automation process of securities trading on a single platform. The measures will be taken to stimulate demand and supply in the market.
Azerbaijan, Netherlands sign four documents
Azerbaijan attaches great importance to the relations with the Netherlands and Azerbaijan-Dutch Business Forum held in Baku will make another contribution to the development of cooperation between the two countries, Economic Development Minister Shahin Mustafayev said at the signing ceremony of the Declaration on the draft agreement on mutual protection of investments.
"Entrepreneurs from the Netherlands have shown great interest in the various areas of the economy of Azerbaijan, and we are ready to consider them.
A good framework is established through the efforts of the two countries, and we are ready to develop it further," Mustafayev said.
At present, the two countries signed 10 agreements in the economic sphere.
He added that currently 70 Dutch companies have been operating in Azerbaijan. The total volume of Dutch investments in Azerbaijan's economy amounts to $365 million.
The trade turnover between Azerbaijan and the Netherlands increased by 42 percent during seven months of the year.
Deputy Prime Minister of the Netherlands Maxime Verhagen, who attended the signing ceremony, said that the signing of the document will further strengthen the cooperation between Azerbaijan and the Netherlands, adding that exports from the Netherlands to Azerbaijan increased by three times in 2011.
Three more documents were signed during the event. The Memorandum of Understanding Masters Courses in business management and development of the experimental farms signed between the Azerbaijan State Agrarian University and consulting company for the production of dairy products Friesian is among them. A Memorandum of Understanding in the field of business management between the Azerbaijan Diplomatic Academy and the control center of Maastricht, the agreement on technical design office building with area of 10 thousand square meters in the frame of Baku-White City project were also signed.
Sept. 14
Azerbaijani state agencies accelerate transition to int'l accounting
The Azerbaijani Finance Ministry has begun holding the courses for the specialists of the organizations, financed from the state budget within the Corporate and Public Sector Accountability Project (CAPSAP), the ministry said.
The courses on "Basis of International Accounting" and "Preparation of new financial reports" are held in financial research and educational center at the Ministry of Finance.
The courses will start on September 17. They will be carried out by local and foreign experts.
The total project cost is $ 24 million. The loan agreement for the project was signed in September 2008. Its implementation will continue until late December 2012.
President opens newly redeveloped Heydar Aliyev Park in Baku (PHOTO)
Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev has inaugurated a newly redeveloped Heydar Aliyev Park in Nizami district, Baku.
The Head of State cut the ribbon symbolizing the official opening of the park.
Accompanied by first lady Mehriban Aliyeva, the Head of State viewed the park. The facility, which was built in 1998 to mark the 75th anniversary of national leader Heydar Aliyev, covered an area of a total of 56,000 square meters.
There are cafes, carpet weaving and architecture centers, and an underground entertainment facility in the park.
The President praised conditions created here.
Azerbaijani President and his spouse open 8 KM stadium in Baku (PHOTO)
President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and his spouse Mehriban Aliyeva have attended the opening of 8 KM stadium in Baku.
The Head of State cut the ribbon symbolizing the official opening of the facility.
The President was told that the stadium could handle up to 11,000 people. It covers a total area of 22,500 square meters. The FIFA-standard stadium is ready to host international tournaments.
President Ilham Aliyev praised conditions created at the facility.