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National development projects supporting
sustainable human development in Azerbaijan
Huseingulu Bagirov, Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources and
Shahin Mustafayev, Minister of Economic Development, Azerbaijan
E
nsuring sustainable development for the long term is a
key objective for Azerbaijan following the adoption of a
new approach involving a broad application of science.
Intensive technologies are supported by intellectual resource and
therefore, creation of a competitive, export-oriented and multi-
branch economy in addressing challenges today. After recent
dynamic growth, our nation’s GDP exceeded US$63 billion and
its per capita rate exceeded US$7,000 in 2011. As a result of
social and economic policy, Azerbaijan experienced a three-
fold increase in GDP from 2003-2011, while the per capita rate
increased 2.7 times. In the same period, growth in wage earner
income increased 5.3 times, while the national average monthly
salary increased 4.6 times and individual savings 15.2 times.
One of the policy priority areas in human development is eliminat-
ing poverty. Having joined the Millennium Declaration to ensure
action in the struggle against poverty in Azerbaijan, approval has
been achieved for the State Programme for Reduction of Poverty and
Economic Development in the Republic of Azerbaijan during 2003-
2005, as well as the State Programme for Reduction of Poverty and
Sustainable Development in the Republic of Azerbaijan during 2008-
2015. Due to actions outlined in the latter, poverty fell
from 46.7 per cent in 2002, to 7.6 per cent in 2011.
Sustainability in human development is included in
a list of strategic development goals for any country.
However, actions and measures of international
organizations in relation to this issue should also be
mentioned. Achievements in recent years have strength-
ened the economic foundations of Azerbaijan and
widened opportunities for implementing more effec-
tive strategies, including accelerating the non-oil sector,
infrastructure, regional social and economic develop-
ment, poverty reduction and environmental safety.
Azerbaijan achieved the fastest growth in human
development across 187 former Soviet Union countries
in the last six years, based on average annual growth
in the Human Development Index (HDI) contained
in the United Nations Human Development Report.
Progressing from 101st in 2005 to 76th in 2011 meant
the country progressed from ‘average human develop-
ment’ to a ‘high level human development’ classification.
The Azerbaijani state attaches particular importance
to developing a new and creative young generation
possessing a broad knowledge and world view, with
the aim of turning ‘black oil’ into ‘human gold.’ The
State Programme for Education Abroad of Azerbaijani
Youth 2007-2015, which was adopted to promote youth
education in teaching institutions across various foreign
countries, is one of the important steps in this direction
and continues its success with a year on year increase in
the number of students – now about 10,000 – receiv-
ing education abroad through a variety of programmes.
This new thinking in human potential remains an
important part of Azerbaijani statehood.
Improving national education, building hundreds
of new schools, applying up-to-date ICT training, and
stimulating activity for education workers while strength-
ening their social protection and raising their status, are
among state initiatives that directly impact on the devel-
opment of education and ultimately are important for
sustainable development of the Azerbaijani citizen. To
improve the education infrastructure for current require-
ments, 40 per cent of general schools have been rebuilt,
expanded or repaired. Reforms in schooling have seen
the education level of people rising year on year so about
97 per cent of the population aged 15 and over now
have higher, secondary special and general secondary
P
eople
:
social
inclusion
,
green
jobs
,
education
President Ilham Aliyev visits a secondary school in Khojaly city, Azerbaijan, February 2011
Image: Azerbaijan State Telegraph Agency