Ilham Aliyev: "Inflation was 1.1%, while the income of the population to 13.8%"

President Ilham Aliyev highly appreciated the dynamic development of Azerbaijan in the past year.

Speaking on 15 January at a government meeting on the socio-economic development in 2012, the President noted that despite the decline in industrial production (and oil) to 2.3% GDP growth was 2.2%, while non-oil sector by 9.7%.

Inflation was 1.1%, while the income of the population to 13.8%. This relation for the phenomenal delay inflation - one of the highest in the world, - he said.

According to him, the growth of macroeconomic indicators allowed to attract significant investment funds - if 2011 was invested $ 20 billion last year, the first investment was $ 22 billion, $ 13 (two thirds) of which - the state capital injections. Stable international ratings, including reports of the World Bank, local financial institutions and economic development, in general allowed raising $ 9 billion of foreign investment.

At the World Economic Forum in Davos, Azerbaijan on economic competitiveness ranked 46th place and among the CIS countries - the 1st place. Common currency reserves of Azerbaijan reached $ 46 billion (70% of GDP).

Referring to the social sphere, the President noted that the middle of last year, the government began to pay on deposits former Savings Bank of the USSR, and has already paid out hundreds of millions of manats.

Last year, Azerbaijan opened 117,000 new jobs, 93,000 of which were permanent. In general, according to the head of state, from 2003 to date, Azerbaijan opened 1.2 million new jobs. The unemployment rate was 5.2%, resulting in poverty fell during the year from 7.6 to 6%. The president promised as a result of government programs to reduce this figure to zero.

The State Committee for Refugees and internally displaced persons in the last year in the form of transfers from the State Oil Fund received unprecedented still 300 million manat, which allowed for 20,000 people in this category to new housing. This year will be no exception - with deductions of 300 million 20 thousand more refugees receive new apartments.

Of energy projects the head of state stressed the agreement and the beginning of the project TANAP, characterized as a serious means to economic and to the same extent other interests of Azerbaijan for decades.

The president said that in the past year has also implemented projects related to the tourism sector, the creation of Youth Fund, etc.

Speaking about the prospects for the 2013-th year, Aliyev noted the increase in the expenditure of the state budget to 20 billion manats (about 35.65% of GDP). Of these funds, 6 billion 915.2 million manat, or 34.9% of expenditure will be spent on public investment programs - building roads, irrigation, carrying water, gas and sewage systems, construction of alternative energy sources. Introduced in this country, the power plants will add nearly one thousand megawatts of electricity, which will further strengthen the energy security of Azerbaijan.

Promising priority sectors include: the development of the capital and regions, food program, telecommunications and computer, automotive and aerospace industry, environmental protection measures. To emphasize the importance of the "electronic government" and other activities related to financial transparency and other components of the fight against corruption.

At the meeting were the Ministers of Economic Development, Communications and Information Technology, the head of the State Committee on Refugees and IDPs, who spoke on the progress of their departments for the year work. -17D-