By 2020, Azerbaijan will continue to be behind in terms of GDP per capita

International conference "Azerbaijan 2020: A Look into the Future" was held on Monday in the hotel “Absheron Marriott.” The participants of the conference, which was held on the initiative of the Center for Strategic Studies under the President of Azerbaijan, the Azerbaijan Youth Fund, UNDP, the company pwc, became the head of the presidential administration, ministers, chairmen of committees, MPs, local and international experts.

Leitmotif of official speeches at the forum was the continuation of a successful policy of Azerbaijan 2020. There were some critical notes in the speeches of international experts. The UNDP and the World Bank in their speeches highlighted the importance of the education system of the country, the development of agriculture, and in general, human capital.

The head of the Presidential Administration, Ramiz Mehdiyev, in his speech touched on the state strategy. According to him, by 2020 GDP will double and reach 13,000 manat per capita (the current world standard  is more than $20,000.-Ed.).

He believes that over the past 20 years, Azerbaijan has been  successfully developing, and until 2020 this successful policy will continue. "In 2003-2011 the average growth of GDP totaled 14.2% , in the non-oil sector - 10.7%. Strategic currency reserves of the country increased to 25.3 times, 16.6 times in the state budget, the volume of bank assets by 10.4 times, nominal wages - 5.9 times the nominal average monthly pension by 6.1 times,  the poverty rate fell from 44 7% to 7.6%.

According to Ramiz Mehdiyev, Azerbaijan has completed the transition period and is on the threshold of a new period. The country has made significant progress in the area of ​​fundamental human freedoms, democracy, the legal state and civil society.

According to the head of the presidential administration, there is free access to the Internet, and this policy will continue. At present, there are for every 100 people 65 internet users. This is by two times more than the average world indices.

Mehdiyev noted that the concept, covering the period until 2020, provides for increasing competitiveness, improving transport infrastructure, logistics, transit, balanced development of the regions, the transition to the information society, human capital development, effective social protection, institutional reforms, development and protection of cultural heritage environment.

The head of Administration and touched the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict. According to him, Armenia has become a source of danger to international peace and security. "The government of Armenia has become a pawn in a very dangerous game, taking on the stigma of the outpost of a foreign power in the South Caucasus. They should understand their responsibility and think about the future of his people. I hope that a just solution to the conflict resulting from the aggression of Armenia against Azerbaijan, which will give a boost to the economic stability of the region, cooperation and development, "he said.

Mehdiyev noted that the international community must unequivocally condemn the act of aggression contrary to the principles and norms of international law.

UNDP Resident Coordinator Mr. Antonius Broek said that branching is an important criteria of the economy. Education, agriculture, employment, competitiveness, the business environment is a measure of what place is the country. According to him, the new concept could be a road map for the branching of the economy. 45% of the population live in rural areas, but only 6% of GDP is agriculture.

Head of the Azerbaijani branch of the World Bank, Larissa Leshenko, noted that human capital formation and foreign investment becomes the impetus for economic development. For the economy there should be  liberal macro-economic conditions and business conditions.

She also referred to the infrastructure projects of the government. In her opinion, it is necessary to  considered the effectiveness of these projects for the country. The money can be allocated for the construction of bridges and other infrastructure, but this is not always a positive contribution. "We need to think about what gives infrastructure projects to agriculture," says Leshenko. According to her, to the development of Azerbaijan in 2011 was due to the oil sector. However, till 2011, the development of Azerbaijan was connected with the non-oil sector.

The forum widely discussed projects in transport, ICT, and Social Protection.  -03B04-