Speech by Ilham Aliyev at the opening of a juice- and wine-making factory of Az-Granata LLC in Agsu

- Let me salute all of you. I am very glad to be in Agsu again. I am very pleased that things are going well in Agsu District, that the district is looking nicer and improving. I came here two years ago and the work carried out since then pleases me very much.

I can say that Agsu is one of the most advanced Azerbaijani districts now, and this pleases me a lot. The improvement and landscaping work under way in Agsu in recent years have markedly increased the district’s potential. I have attended the opening of new enterprises today. A new beautiful and large football stadium has been opened, kids are already training there. I remember listening to information on the construction of a stadium here two years ago and saying that there is no football club in Agsu. If the stadium is built, there must be a football team. According to the information I received today, the team is already in place, children have been involved. Children are already training, and it is very gratifying.

Other issues are also being resolved. As people living here you will probably know that streets are being laid, water supply lines built. When I was here last time, I was informed of a water problem in Agsu, the composition of the water here was not up to par. Funds were allocated and the problem was resolved in a short time. Now we are implementing specific projects to address the problems of water supply and sanitation in general.

Today I have attended the opening of new enterprises. New jobs are created. Of course, of all the work being done today the launch of this factory carries a special meaning. This is one of the biggest processing enterprises not only in Agsu, but possibly even in Azerbaijan. At the same time, it is one of the largest processing ventures in the region, the entire South Caucasus. Very large investment has been made here. Modern equipment has been installed and a technological process introduced. According to my information, the factory is at the level of international standards and its products are of high quality. These products can be and are sold anywhere in the world. The factory director tells me that products are already exported to European countries.

I believe that this very factor demonstrates the quality of any enterprise. It should always be in the spotlight. If we can take our goods, finished products to the markets of developed countries, it means that these products are at a proper level. I am very pleased that this large enterprise is already functioning. This venture will have greatly facilitate the development of both the district and the region. Around 1,000 people are already working here. In the future their number will increase further. Peasants and farmers sell, hand over their products to this factory at affordable prices. So this will inevitably serve agricultural development because the factory is already operational, it receives products. So farmers will be interested in growing more produce and earning more money. Therefore, the launch of this factory serves the following objectives – agricultural development, establishment of processing enterprises and local production, and production of exportable goods. There is a concentration of all these factors here. So the launch of this factory is highly important. It is not just the commissioning of another facility. The operation of this factory, I repeat, will significantly facilitate the development of both Agsu and neighboring regions and districts.

At the same time, the launch of this factory is vivid evidence of our successful economic policy. The current realities have facilitated the implementation of the program on the socioeconomic development of districts which commenced in 2004. If we hadn’t adopted the program and started its second stage in 2009, this factory would have been out of the question.

The development of districts, the implementation of infrastructure projects, the construction of roads and power plants, gasification, the installation of water lines, the attention being paid to the private enterprise, the provision of farmers with fuel and fertilizer on easy terms, the organization of subsidies, the allocation of hundreds of millions in loans through the National Fund on Support for Entrepreneurship – this is what makes these realities possible. Therefore, I attach great importance to and appreciate the launch of the factory. Because at the start of this factory we clearly see the results of the work done in recent years. New production sites are emerging, jobs are created, quality products are produced and delivered to world markets, bringing glory to our country and economy. In the coming years we must strive to expand the geography of our exports. To do this, we are entering new markets. At the last Cabinet meeting I gave special instructions in this regard – we must both access traditional markets and identify new ones. In particular, we must consider that there is a demand for our products in countries friendly to us.

So we will develop our non-oil economy even more rapidly. The results of nine months of this year show that the non-oil economy is developing successfully, it has grown by over eight per cent. It will carry on growing in the coming years. In the future, the Azerbaijani economy must grow largely due to the non-oil sector.

As for the oil and gas sector, things are going well there. All our tasks are being met. At present, we are pleased with the progress made in this area. In the coming years we must strive to make new contributions to the development of agriculture, processing, non-oil industries, so that the economy could develop in a diversified manner.

I am very pleased that all Azerbaijani districts are developing, there is activity in all our districts. As you know, I regularly visit the districts to examine the situation, give instructions and receive suggestions from the ground.

I am pleased with the work carried out in Agsu District in recent years. I appreciate the work done. But, again, we should not settle for this progress, we must go forward and go fast, so that Azerbaijan could always develop and strengthen and the Azerbaijani people could live better.

My congratulations on this wonderful event! I wish the people of Agsu every success.