President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev attended the opening ceremony of a lime plant in Gazakh on March 3.
The Azerlime lime plant, which has just started operations in Gazakh region and belongs to Matanat A, will play an important role in the construction-building works in the region. This enterprise established in Dash Salahli village of the region is of special importance in terms of creating new jobs and providing employment.
The head of Matanat A Company Elkhan Bashirov briefed the head of state on the works done.
It was noted that the company, founded in 2000, has been successfully operating in the construction materials sector for 20 years. The company includes plants specializing in the production of dry construction mixes, gypsum-based products, paints, concrete additives, equipment and tools, turnkey.
President Ilham Aliyev was informed about the company’s ongoing and promising projects. It was noted that the stone wool plant and gypsum board plant are already under implementation. Perspective projects envisage the construction of an enriched quartz sand plant with an annual production capacity of 300 thousand tons and a light block plant with an annual production capacity of 200 thousand cubic meters. A total of 90 million manats will be invested in the establishment of these plants, and preferential state loans will be used. As a result of establishment of the plants, about 1000 permanent jobs will be created.
The head of our state launched the Azerlime lime plant.
President Ilham Aliyev inspected the products manufactured at the Azerlime lime plant. These products will not only meet modern standards, but also, as an Azerbaijani brand, demonstrate to the world the economic potential of our country. Due to the modern equipment installed at the enterprise, the products will be distinguished with their high quality. Mainly local raw materials will be used at the plant. 60% of the products prepared are intended to meet the needs of the domestic market, and 40% for export. The quality lime products manufactured at this plant are used in important sectors such as metallurgy, food, pharmaceuticals, water treatment, agriculture, healthcare, chemicals, plastics, glass and mining industry.
The new type of Azerlime lime product for plaster produced at the plant is a revolutionary innovation in the construction sector. In the production process of the enterprise, special attention is paid to obtaining environmentally friendly products and saving energy. This, in turn, reduces the cost price of the product.
Then, President Ilham Aliyev met with a group of the local community and the staff of the plant.
The head of our state spoke at the meeting.
Speech of President Ilham Aliyev
- First of all, let me congratulate you on the opening of the plant. I am very glad that your company has been active in creating this new plant, thus making a very important contribution to the development of our country and people.
Several plants are already in operation. I recommended that all investments be made in Azerbaijan, as you had other plans. I regularly review your activities because all new industrial enterprises are very important, especially those that meet domestic needs, as well as manufacture exportable products. Therefore, when I heard that you had plans to invest in foreign countries, I said that I do not object it because both private and state-owned companies of Azerbaijan are investing abroad as well these days. However, it is advisable to first establish enterprises in Azerbaijan in order to create jobs, develop local production, reduce dependence on imports, and bring out export-oriented products that would bring currency to our country. As I see at this presentation shown in stands here today that the company’s activities are fairly large-scale and have led to the creation of hundreds of jobs, especially in the regions. It is planned to employ 150 and a further 250 people at the next stage at this new lime plant alone. So, there are good opportunities for providing citizens with jobs.
As for your plans for the future, I am sure that they will be realized with the support of the state. The state has provided you with financial support for the effective operation of these plants and your effective operation, allocated preferential loans. However, you took on the main burden, of course, and this is natural. The state will always stand by the entrepreneurs and continue to give a powerful impetus to the development of entrepreneurship.
The investment climate in our country is very positive today. It is no coincidence that $13,5 billion was invested in the country’s economy last year. This process continues this year, with a significant part of investments being local. This suggests that local companies can already stand firm on their feet and these works will be continued with the support of the state. Through the Entrepreneurship Development Fund alone, entrepreneurs have received preferential loans worth 2 billion manats, which has helped create tens of thousands of new jobs.
The World Bank also acknowledges that we have good investment climate, and in these ratings, we are among top 20 most reforming countries. Of course, a very smart policy needs to be pursued to achieve this. I am sure that not only the World Bank, but also local entrepreneurs see and approve the ongoing reforms because the main thing for them is the application of right rules. The state policy in this direction in all areas is unambiguous, and full transparency must be ensured in the financial and economic fields. Thanks to this transparency, tax and customs authorities put 1 billion manats into the budget in addition to the forecast last year alone.
Although the budget for this year has reached a record high, there has never been such a large amount of budget expenditure in the history of Azerbaijan before. In preparing the budget, extensive analytical works were done to know what the forecasts will consist of. Compared to last year, forecasts have been increased. Despite this, in January-February the tax authorities put 180 million manats and customs authorities 70 million manats into the budget above the forecast. A total of 250 million manats in just two months. Due to what? Due to transparency, accuracy, clarity and expansion of the tax base. Therefore, entrepreneurs fully supporting these works will expand their financial capabilities and have additional funds which should first of all be invested in Azerbaijan. At the same time, these positive trends are a severe blow to the shadow economy. The volume of the shadow economy is sharply narrowing. It should narrow even more, and the funds raised above the forecast are a clear example of this.
There shouldn’t be unofficial employment. I am sure that this is not the case at your enterprise. Employment agreements must be concluded with all employees. I am appealing to all employees again: if an entrepreneur tries to hire you illegally, don’t agree because you will not receive a pension and will not be provided with compulsory medical insurance. Starting this year, compulsory medical insurance will gradually cover the entire country. Those working unofficially will be deprived of this. They will have to pay for medical services. Compulsory medical insurance will also completely put an end to the practice of additional payment. Unfortunately, we still have serious problems and violations in this field. Compulsory medical insurance will stop this. At the same time, this will be a serious method of combating unofficial employment.
The opening of this plant today shows that our country pursue the right economic policy. We are seeing tangible results of measures being taken related to entrepreneurship, as our economy should develop at the account of the private sector. The state simply has to create conditions and implement infrastructure projects so that entrepreneurs engage in this work with enthusiasm.
There are no problems associated with electricity in Gazakh region. Electricity supply is at 100 percent here. There are no problems with gasification either. Gazakh region is provided with gas by 100 percent. Today, 85 percent of roads in Gazakh have been repaired. If there were problems in these fields, no entrepreneur would invest money here, including you. You would have found other places, gone to other countries where there is infrastructure. Therefore, we have created this so that people live well and comfortably and so that entrepreneurs invest here. The head of the executive authority informed me that in Dash Salahli village there are three major enterprises with 1300 employees. The population of the village is 10 thousand people, and 1300 of them work here. This is the work we and the entrepreneurs have done. Therefore, the central government and local executive authorities must always support entrepreneurs. Their problems must be resolved. I have been informed that we have paved a new road, but trucks can destroy it. An alternative road needs to be paved for trucks. I am now instructing the State Agency of Azerbaijan Automobile Roads, they hear me. It is necessary to build a new 2km road so that the rural road remains in good condition and does not deform.
I congratulate you once again and wish you success. Do create such enterprises so that I could participate in their opening together with you.
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Executive Director of Azerlime lime plant Fuad Bashirov stated:
-Thank you, Mr. President. Welcome to Gazakh region and our plant. Let us convey our sincere greetings to you on behalf of the village community and our staff. We are very happy that this is the third time you are participating in the opening ceremony of a large enterprise in Dash Salahli village. Today, the appearance of all regions of our country is changing. We all feel this in our daily lives.
Mr. President, today every problem is in the center of your attention and under your constant control, not only in the city centers and region centers, but also in remote villages. It is no coincidence that we are making such an opening in Dash Salahli, a mountain village, in the face of the enemy. Let me also note that $ 15 million has been invested in this plant. 9 million of this was the support of our state. At the same time, with the support of the Ministry of Economy, we have received an incentive for this project. Today we plan to create 250 jobs. The average monthly salary will be 500 manats. Among the specialists there are those who receive a salary of 1000 manats and 800 manats. Most of these workers are from Dash Salahli village. There is an interesting point here, today there are families in Dash Salahli village, whose both parents work in a modern plant, and they have to put their children in kindergarten. What is the reason for this? This is due to the creation of high infrastructure, modern kindergartens and schools. It is also a cultural revolution. Today, the cultural approach is also changing. All this is the result of your hard work day and night and care about every citizen.
I would also like to note that we have used the knowledge of German and Swiss specialists in the construction of this plant. However, today we can say with confidence that those specialists have left, and the local staff, who grew up without their support, are doing this work with their own forces. In addition, most of them are youth. I myself studied in Germany and England with the support of our state. I have a PhD in economics and today I am involved in management. I am not the only example. Today, like me, there are many people in this company, starting from labour and rising to the level of specialists. That’s why, we express our deep gratitude to you for the state policy on youth and this care shown for young people. We, once again, thank you on behalf of the entire staff and wish you good health. We assure you that with our success we will support your policy and justify your confidence. God bless you, thank you very much.
President Ilham Aliyev: Thank you. I wish you good health too.
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A memorial photo was taken in the end.
