Media Review 31.08.18

The expansion of industry in the country, the repayment of public debt, and the prospects for learning in Russian are the themes of today's media.

The newspaper Azerbaijan writes about the expansion of the industrial potential of the country. This year new industrial enterprises have opened in Baku and regions, including factories, power stations and others. Among the newly opened enterprises there are also fruits of international cooperation: the Khazar and Azermash car factories in Neftchala. The cost of the latter is 15 million dollars, 75% belong to Azmash and 25% - to the Iranian Iran Khodro. The products of this plant under the brand Made in Azerbaijan will be exhibited at local and foreign markets.

In addition, the factories SOCAR Polymer, as well as Mingachevir Textile and Azerkhalcha were opened.

The newspaper Novoye Vremya comments on the strategy on short-term and long-term management of the state debt of Azerbaijan. According to the government, the peak of payments will be for 2019-2022.

As of January 1, 2018, Azerbaijan's state debt was AZN 17,007.4 million. Out of them, 15,978.1 million manat is external debt (about 9.4 billion dollars) and 1 billion manat is domestic debt (bonds and other debt instruments issued by the government).

The ratio of public debt to GDP at the beginning of 2018 was 24.3%, and the ratio to currency reserves was 23.8%.

The strategy sets three main goals: to achieve a stable and manageable level of public debt, to improve the risk management system and to strengthen control mechanisms and public debt infrastructure. However, in what ways and what exactly will be done, is not reported.

The website Modern.az cites the reasoning of MP Arif Rahimzadeh about the future of the Russian education sector. Recently there has been an increase in the number of students in the Russian sector. However, the MP refutes fears that the Russian sector can oust the Azerbaijani sector.