South Korea’s The Korea Post newspaper posted an interview with Azerbaijani ambassador to this country Ramin Hasanov.
The ambassador answered questions concerning Azerbaijan’s business and investment climate, tourism potential, reconstruction work in the liberated lands.
“The year of 2022 was very successful for Azerbaijan. Our government has continued to successfully implement “Azerbaijan 2030: National Priorities for Socio-Economic Development” and “Socioeconomic Development Strategy of the Republic of Azerbaijan for 2022-2026”, to ensure country’s smooth transition to more diversified, competitive, innovative, sustainable, resilient, as well as technology, intellectual property and knowledge-based economy,” the ambassador said.
“Despite the global economic crisis, the last year, Azerbaijani economy grew by about 5%, with the non-oil sector growth recorded at more than 9%. This is a historic achievement for our country in the post-COVID-19 period.”
“Investment inflows are one of the vital sources for promoting Azerbaijan`s sustainable and inclusive development. A favorable business and investment environment have been established in Azerbaijan, and significant measures have been recently realized to further improve the business climate to attract foreign investments. Moreover, the country possesses a liberal foreign trade regime.”
On the situation between Azerbaijan and Armenia the ambassador said: “Although two years have passed since the end of the Patriotic War, Armenia continues to commit military provocations on the state border. In the latest one, in September 2022, the Azerbaijani Armed Forces had to launch a resolute counter-offensive operation to repel yet another military provocation by Armenia.
Despite the war crimes, urbicide, culturicide and ecocide acts carried out by Armenia for almost 30 years, Azerbaijan is still committed to the peace talks and presented its relevant proposals to Armenian side. Currently, there are all the pre-requisites to sign a peace treaty with Armenia, which is possible based on the well-known principles proposed by Azerbaijan. However, Armenia still makes contradictory statements, demonstrates non-constructive position and deliberately hinders the peace process.”
“Azerbaijan is strongly interested in economic development of the liberated territories and, in this regard, Azerbaijan has launched the large-scale restoration and reconstruction projects in those territories.”
Asked about the important events in Azerbaijan for 2023, Hasanov said:” The President of the Republic of Azerbaijan has declared 2023 as a “Year of Heydar Aliyev” in Azerbaijan. 10 May 2023 will mark the 100th Anniversary of the birth of Heydar Aliyev, the national leader of the Azerbaijani people and an outstanding politician and statesman. In this regard, numerous events will be organized both in Azerbaijan and foreign countries.”
“Azerbaijan also emerges as the venue for hosting major international sporting events. In this respect, Formula 1 Azerbaijan Grand Prix 2023 will be organized in Baku on 27-30 April 2023.
Azerbaijan’s image on the global arena has been further strengthening by hosting the international events and, in this context, 74th International Astronautical Congress will be convened on 2-6 October 2023 in Baku. Moreover, taking into account that Shusha city was declared “Culture Capital of the Turkic World” for 2023, a number of events will be held both in Azerbaijan and abroad.”
The ambassador touched upon Korea-Azerbaijan relations in political, economic fields.
“Both countries are enjoying also dynamic economic-trade relations. Azerbaijan is the largest and most significant economic-trade partner of Korea in the South Caucasus. In 2022, compared to 2021, the bilateral trade turnover increased by 18.23%. During the same period, Azerbaijan’s exports to Korea expanded 3.52 times and imports from Korea grew by 18.14%. Korea is one of the biggest foreign direct investors to Azerbaijan’s non-oil sector,” Hasanov noted.
“The interest of Korean companies to Azerbaijani economy and products is continuously increasing. 77 Korean companies are currently operating in Azerbaijan in the fields of trade, industry, construction and services,” he added.
Shahin Jafarov
AZERTAC special correspondent
Source: Azerbaijan State News Agency