A regional seminar was held in Nakhchivan
A regional seminar on “Involvement of the private sector and ensuring investment activity in the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals in Food and Agriculture in Azerbaijan” was held at Nakhchivan Business Center.
First of all, the participants of the event laid flowers at the monument to national leader Heydar Aliyev in Nakhchivan and visited the Heydar Aliyev Museum.
After the welcoming of participants at the opening ceremony Vugar Abbasov, the Chairman of the Board of the Confederation of Entrepreneurs of Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic, spoke about the recent constructive events, the economic and social development in Nakhchivan.
It was mentioned that the Confederation of Entrepreneurs of Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic supports the entrepreneurs in successful business activities. The Entrepreneurs Confederation of Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic currently has 33 members. As a result of the deepening relations between state and entrepreneur over the past 24 years, numerous manufacturing and service industries for mechanical engineering, metallurgy, chemistry, mining, furniture, food industry and agriculture have been established on the basis of high technology. Each new production area has played an important role in protecting the domestic market, preventing foreign currency inflows and reducing dependence on imports.
The Minister of Economy of the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic, Tapdig Aliyev said the targeted policy aimed at the development of key sectors of the economy, industry, construction, agriculture, transport and communications had an impact on the growth of product production and improving living standards since 1995. Regardless of difficulties of blockade conditions, macroeconomic indicators in the economic and social sectors have grown at an annual rate.
It was emphasized that production of 383 types of products in autonomous republic, the full satisfaction of the local demand for 350 types of products was made possible thanks to diversification of the economy, government support for entrepreneurship and support for new economic projects.
Tapdig Aliyev stressed out that to declare of 2019 “Year of Family Farm” in autonomous republic, the approval of “the Action Plan on the development of family farms in the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic” by the decree of the Supreme Council on January 18, 2019, large opportunities have been created for the action of family farms. The “Festival of Family Farm” products which held every year in the capital of Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic and in the regional centers, is a vivid example of the state care to this field. Already in the autonomous republic there is a great demand for organic products produced by family farms who specialized in this field in Baku and other regions of the country. Today, in addition to Nakhchivan, there are shops selling Nakhchivan products in Baku and Ganja.
Minister of Agriculture of the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic, Bahruz Bayramov said that agriculture is one of the areas that ensure dynamic development of the economy. Targeted measures for agricultural development create comprehensive conditions for the improvement of the agricultural sector. Execution of measures stipulated in the adopted state programs, provision of preferential loans to producers of products, strengthening of melioration and irrigation measures, expansion of leasing services, increase of grain and refrigerator storage facilities, establishment of greenhouse complexes, poultry and fishing farms, fruit and vegetable processing enterprises, caused a dynamic development.
High agricultural production has been achieved through improved agricultural infrastructure. So, the construction and operation of indoor irrigation systems on 5,19.4 hectares in 2019 with an area of 4,479 hectares allowed for the involvement of farmland in crop rotation and the creation of crop yields. Economic reforms held in agriculture show that it is already some years that its demand is met by domestic production.
President of the National Confederation of Entrepreneurs (Employers) Organizations of the Republic of Azerbaijan Mammad Musayev said that as a result of successful socio-economic policy implemented by the President, important steps are being taken to develop entrepreneurship in all regions of the country, especially the establishment of a sustainable economy.
As a result of implemented measures, the value added in the non-oil sector of the economy increased by 3.5% this year. Agriculture accounts for 6.2% of the value added. Entrepreneurship development, especially small and medium-sized businesses, are among the most important issues for the head of country.
The Head of the Office for Cooperation and Coordination of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations in Azerbaijan, Melek Chakmak expressed his gratitude to the Chairman of the Supreme Assembly of the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic for the support of the seminar in Nakhchivan.
Melek Cakmak said that it is commendable that in the short term of 15-16 years after gaining independence, the progress made in ensuring food security. There is great support at the state level for the development of agriculture. Melek Chakmak highly appreciated the efforts of the Government of Azerbaijan to diversify agricultural production.
Chairman of the Board of “Agro Procurement and Supply”, Leyla Mammadova gave detailed information about the activities of the organization she leads. Leyla Mammadova said that in Baku there is a sale of products made in Nakhchivan, which is in great demand. Most of the products sold at the “From Village-to-City” sales fair and shops created by the agency to support of small and medium-sized businesses are the products made in Nakhchivan. We hope that in the future the number of such entrepreneurs will increase.
The workshop then focused on the “Agenda – 2030 and the Role of the Private Sector in the Implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals in Food and Agriculture, “Capacity Building in Business Activities to Support the Sustainable Development Goals, Exchange of Experiences – Private Sector and SDGs – Experiences according to Regions”. Delaware Barakzai, Pedro Marcelo Arias and other UN representatives made speeches.