Media Review for February 3, 2020

The state’s concern for youth, the doctor’s comment about the coronavirus, oil prices, the lack of a solution to the question of doubtful loans are the topics of today's Internet resources.

The website Bizimyol-info.az is discussing with Professor Adil Geybullayev two Chinese tourists traveling from Baku to Georgia, who allegedly had a coronavirus. The Professor believes that the tourists in Baku arrived already sick, but were not checked at the entrance, and perhaps at that time they did not have clinical signs of coronavirus.

 On January 31, a group of Chinese tourists who arrived from Baku to Kazbegi were hospitalized urgently. During the examination, two children were found to have the type A influenza virus, not the coronavirus.

Musavat.com writes that 60% of bad loans are loans issued through corruption. The reason for this was the report of the Central Bank on overdue loans. According to the report, as of January 1, 2020, the amount of overdue loans amounted to 1.273.1 million manat. In annual comparison, their decrease by 19.7% or 311.9 million manat is observed.

Expert Akram Hasanov believes that the reason for the decline is the order of the head of state in February 2019 to issue compensation for overdue loans in the amount of up to 10 thousand dollars. However, doubtful loans remain, mainly loans issued under a “rollback”. About 60% of loans are such.

The website of the newspaper Azerbaijan writes about the state’s concern for youth. The author recalls that this year is declared the Year of Volunteers. Currently, youth is the main base of personnel in the reform process. This is a manifestation of high confidence in youth on the part of the state.

The website Moderator.az writes that the coronavirus hit the Oil Fund, and Azeri Light fell to $ 55. Economist and expert Gubad Ibadoglu believes that this virus appeared at the beginning of the year - an economically unfavorable period for both the financial and commodity markets. So, on the stock exchange, stocks are depreciating, and the price of oil, gas, etc. is falling. According to the estimates of the reputable bank Goldman Sachs, coronavirus will reduce growth in the Chinese economy by at least 0.4%. This will greatly affect the economy of the USA and Japan. As a result of coronavirus in the first quarter of this year in China, the daily demand for oil will decrease by 250 thousand barrels, and this will lead to lower oil prices in the world market. And this process has already begun.