By Vestnik Kavkaza
Non-oil economic segment intensively develops in Azerbaijan. According to Mirror, in recent 10 years producing products of processing industry grew in 2.1 times, of metal industry – in 3.8 times, in machinery and equipment producing – in 2.7 times, electrical equipment – in 5.3 times. One of leading industrial spheres in the country is chemical industry, due to sufficient material base and high demand. Accelerated development of construction provided favorable conditions for producing construction materials, which grew in 2.5 times. It is expected that opening of new cement factories will not only completely provide internal demand on cement, but also create an opportunity for export.
The periodical notes that in 10 years 192 major industrial enterprises have been established in the republic, for example, the Nakhchivan car plant, DETAL aluminum producing plant in Gyandzha, the solar panel in Sumgait, the Baku shipbuilding plant, and so on. Existed enterprises were reconstructed and modernized.
One of priority directions is development of industrial parks which unite enterprises on the basis of common infrastructure and mutual producing cooperation. Such technical parks are established in almost all major cities. Moreover, construction of the High Technologies Park is initiated near the capital.
The periodical states that, according to predictions, in 2014 the non-oil segment of Azerbaijan will grow by 10%, in 2015-2017 – by more than 8% in a year. Such pace will enable Azerbaijan to double GDP by 2020, according to the concept of Azerbaijan development.
***
Yerevan’s New Time reports that security of exploitation of the Armenian Nuclear Power Electricity Station becomes one of priority goals for the authorities of the country, but no less acute are questions on the future of the working power generation plant. The government adopted the decision on prolongation of its exploitation to 2026 in September, and now there are certain steps in the direction.
Recently the Nuclear Power Industry Security Council under President of Armenia has held a session, after which its secretary Vagram Petrosyan informed that Russia would provide a credit for prolongation of work of the nuclear power station. Petrosyan didn’t mention an exact sum, as the credit was being formed, according to him. At the same time, he said that money would be given under very beneficial conditions, and the details would be clear by the end of the year. As an example of prolongation of work of other similar nuclear power plants which were built in Soviet times, such stations as Novovoronezhskaya NPS in Russia and Rovenskaya station in Ukraine were mentioned; their price was about $160 million.
As for building a new nuclear power plant, Petrosyan said that investors were being attracted and no construction was being provided.
***
The IMF leveled off prediction of the economic growth of Georgia for 2013 down to 2.5%. In early 2012 the forecast was 6%, in June 2013 it was reduced to 4%. Moreover, during the last week the course of Georgian national currency lari is falling.
The IMF report says that reduction of the Georgian economic growth is caused by decrease of investments and credits and saving of state resources. Saving led to stiffening of fiscal policy, and the government has to spend money effectively and encourage demand.
The minister of economy of Georgia, Georgy Kvirikashvili, according to The Georgian Times, believes that the decrease in the economic growth is related to political tensions in the country. According to him, the opposition took a lot of destructive steps. At the same time, he admitted that he and the ruling coalition are responsible for this as well, especially at the initial stage, when its activities haven’t been coordinated.
The minister of finances, Nodar Khaduri, agrees with him. He thinks that the economic situation was influenced by President Saakashvili’s separate deeds which prevented providing effective economic policy. Khaduri also reported that the Georgian government, according to the IMF recommendations, intends to take a foreign credit for infrastructural projects.
As for lari fall, the minister of finances comforted the society. He noted that during summer the course was improving and it was about 1.64 lari per dollar. Now it has fallen to 1.67. The minister says that a significant fall of lari is unlikely.
***
On January 29, 2014, Ingushetia will welcome the Olympic torch relay, then it will head to North Ossetia. The head of the department of physical culture and sport, Timur Sampiev, told Ingushetia Newspaper that the relay will take place in three stages in the republic. The first stage includes a theatre performance; the second stage – the torch will be taken by alpinist, conqueror of Everest, Leila Albogachiyeva. And the third final stage of the relay will be setting up fire in the city bowl in Magas. The Ingush route takes 8 km.
***
2014 is declared to be the Year of Culture in Russian. According to North Ossetia Newspaper, Vladikavkaz implements a wide-scale project on construction of V. Gergiyev North Caucasus Cultural Musical Center. In 2014 about a billion of rubles will be spent for the project. Gergiyev Center will be built on the place of the former October Cinema.
The republic allocated more than 33 million rubles for development of tourism, reconstruction cultural facilities and improvement of material and technical base for 2014.
