Economist: Reforms Useless Without Clear Tax Code

The management of the Baku Metro often announces projects for new underground lines and stations, but official information never includes data on the cost of laying a kilometer of track or building specific metro stations. Journalists sometimes obtain details from unofficial sources, raising doubts about the reliability of such information. For instance, in 2021, an unofficial government source reported a cost of 60 million manats for planned construction of a single station on the Purple Line. This figure excluded finishing works, installation of communication lines, electronics, escalators, and elevators.

The Milli Majlis (Parliament) of Azerbaijan began discussions on Monday regarding the draft state budget for 2025, which projects expenditures of AZN 41.368 billion.

Azerbaijan’s livestock sector has demonstrated modest growth in domestic production, yet it faces significant challenges as imports of meat and dairy products surge. Recent data from the State Statistics Committee underscores this dichotomy, revealing increases in local output but an even sharper rise in imports, accompanied by persistent price inflation.

Azerbaijan's agricultural sector faces a critical moment as modest growth in grain production fails to offset a troubling decline in productivity. Data from the State Statistics Committee shows that total grain and legume production grew by 0.7% year-on-year, reaching 3.2 million tons by November 1, 2024. However, this growth is overshadowed by a sharp 6.2% drop in yield, highlighting structural inefficiencies in the sector.