(MENAFN- AzerNews)
Sabina Mammadli read more The first group of Lachin residents, 296 families, will be
settled in the district's Zabukh and Sus villages by the end of the
year, Azerbaijani Prime Minister Ali Asadov said.
He made the remarks during a briefing on the activities of
Azerbaijan's Cabinet of Ministers in 2022 in the Parliament.
“One of the memorable historical events is the beginning of the
resettlement of the population to Aghalı village of Azerbaijan's
liberated Zangilan district. In the presence of President Ilham
Aliyev and First Vice-President Mehriban Aliyeva, the opening
ceremony of the first stage of the 'Smart Village' project was held
in Agali village of Zangilan district on May 27. In the first
stage, 66 families (326 people) have been relocated to Aghali, and
so far 86 families (420 people) have been relocated,” the prime
minister stressed.
He noted that recently the first 20 families are being relocated
to the village of Talish.
Social payments
Asadov underlined that a number of important decisions were made
regarding the increase of wages, labor pensions, social benefits,
and stipends, especially the social payments of the low-income
group, in the direction of strengthening the social protection of
the population in 2022.
According to him, with the 20 percent raise, in 2022, the
minimum wage went from 250 manats ($147) to 300 manats ($176).
'Also, the amount of minimum pension has been increased by 20
percent, social benefits and presidential stipends by 26 percent.
In addition, the increase in the average amount of monthly
allowances was 33 percent,” the minister stated.
He also drew attention to the fact that a social reform package,
covering 3.4 million people with an additional annual financial
burden of 2.1 billion manats ($1.2 billion) was implemented in
2022. The premier noted that these measures are designed to protect
the real income of the population and mitigate the consequences of
inflation.
He noted that social reforms including social increases have
been continued by the president since the beginning of 2023.
'In general, an additional 750 million manat ($441.1 million)
funds are planned for new increases in wages and social payments in
2023. Those increases will cover 1.9 million citizens,' the PM
added.
Reconstruction of liberated lands
Speaking about the reconstruction works in Azerbaijan's
liberated lands, the official underlined that Azerbaijan has
allocated 6.5 billion manats ($3.8) from the state budget to the
reconstruction and restoration of the liberated territories in the
last two years. He added that out of this number, 4.3 billion
manats ($2.5) were spent in 2022.
He noted that the package of tax, customs, social insurance,
investment promotion, credit and other concessions given to the
liberated territories will contribute to the reintegration of those
territories into the general economy of the country, sustainable
settlement of the population, employment and provision of
sustainable economic activity.
Besides, the PM remarked that 11 hydropower stations were built
on the liberated lands. He also added that the design and
construction of 19 highways with a total length of 2,241 km and the
construction of Lachin International Airport continued.
Then, the prime minister stressed that a total of 18 industrial
enterprises have been registered in 'Aghdam' and 'Araz Valley
Economic Zone' Industrial Parks in Karabakh and Eastern Zangazur
economic regions. He stressed that a total of approximately 106
million AZN ($62.3 million) is expected to be invested, and more
than 800 new jobs are planned to be opened.
He noted that 38 percent of the works on the construction of the
Horadiz-Aghband railway, and 74 percent on the
Horadiz-Jabrayil-Zangilan-Aghband highway have been completed.
The minister then outlined that as part of the land construction
works carried out in the liberated territories, 50.8 thousand
hectares in Jabrayil district, 79.9 thousand hectares in Gubadli
district, 144 thousand hectares in Kalbajar district, 43.6 thousand
hectares in Lachin district and 70.9 thousand hectares in Zangilan
district, totaling 389.2 were carried out on a thousand-hectare
area.
He emphasized that data on the earthworks was processed and an
initial intermediate GIS database has been created.
“All the works in Zangilan and Gubadli districts were finalized
and entered into TEKUIS (Electronic Land Cadastre Accounting
Information System). Large-scale research works were carried out in
the framework of field-soil research on 283,600 hectares and
geobotanical research on 309,000 hectares, 155.2 hectares in the
Zangilan district, 98.4 hectares in the Kalbajar district, 73.3
hectares in the Gubadli district were subjected to military
degradation. Research works were carried out in a total area of
326.9 hectares,” the minister highlighted.
In Shusha, Jabrayil, Fuzuli, Gubadli, Zangilan, Aghdam,
Khojavand, Tartar, Khojaly, Kalbajar and Lachin districts,
preliminary inventory work has been completed, including 12.3
thousand buildings and 1.8 thousand infrastructure objects,
totaling 14.1 thousand real estates, he said.
Speaking about the mine issue, Asadov highlighted that together
with ANAMA, Defense Ministry, Emergencies Ministry, the State
Border Service and 4 local private companies were involved in
demining operations in the liberated areas.
'As a result of the measures taken, a total of 65,000 hectares,
including 44,000 hectares in 2022, have been cleared,' he
added.
Economy
Furthermore, the prime minister underlined that in 2022, the
gross domestic product was produced in Azerbaijan at a record
level.
He said that GDP of 133.8 billion manat ($78.7) was produced
last year, which is 4.6 percent more than the previous year. GDP in
the non-oil sector increased by 9.1 percent, agriculture increased
by 3.6 percent, GDP per capita increased by 4.1 percent.
'Last year, the foreign exchange reserves increased by 5.3
billion dollars and amounted to 58.5 billion dollars. Currently,
the foreign currency reserves are 62 billion dollars, they have
increased by 4 billion dollars in 2 months,' the official
added.
The minister expressed that the international reputation of
Azerbaijan has increased, the economy has developed, defense
capabilities have strengthened, and the social condition of the
population has improved as a result of the successful and targeted
domestic and foreign policy implemented under the leadership of the
Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev.
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