Caucasus press review "Azerbaijan and Russia are working hard to improve regional cooperation between the two countries," the Baku newspaper New Time writes. The newspaper notes that Azerbaijan cooperates with the constituents of the Russian Federation in various spheres. Bilateral agreements with the administrations of Moscow, Stavropol, Saratov, Sverdlovsk, St. Petersburg, Novosibirsk, Kemerovo, Tomsk, Voronezh, Nizhny Novgorod, Kurgan, Chelyabinsk, Astrakhan, the Moscow region, as well as the republics of Tatarstan, Bashkortostan and Mordovia have been signed. Similar agreements are scheduled to be signed with other subjects of the Russian Federation. Meetings, trade fairs, exhibitions, forums, conferences and other events with the participation of representatives of government agencies and business communities are being held.More than 50 agreements relating to trade and economic issues have been signed between the countries since the collapse of the USSR. In early June this year a Memorandum of Understanding between the Ministry of Economy and Industry of Azerbaijan and the Ministry of Economic Development of Russia was signed. There is an agreement to establish a joint investment fund. During the first half of 2014 the trade turnover between Azerbaijan and Russia grew 10% compared with the same period last year, amounting to 1.086 billion dollars. Currently there are 570 companies with Russian capital in Azerbaijan. Russian business plays an important role in the diversification of the economy of Azerbaijan and development of its non-oil sectors. An additional impetus to the expansion and deepening of bilateral relations was the Fifth Azerbaijani-Russian Forum in Gabala which took place in June 2014. It has become a powerful platform for discussing priorities of interregional economic cooperation, socio-political, cultural and humanitarian issues and other aspects of the implementation of joint projects. One of the projects which developed in the framework of this forum was a roadmap for the construction of a border bridge across the Samur River, in order to improve the road connection between the two countries. ***The head of Ingushetia, Yunus-Bek Yevkurov, in an interview with the newspaper "Ingushetia" stressed the positive dynamic of development in the republic. In 2012 and 2013 the republic was one of the top 20 best regions of Russia. The head of the region hopes that this year and next year Ingushetia will increase its economic and social potential significantly. There has been an increase in investment in the republic. If in 2012 agreements worth 5 billion rubles were concluded, this year agreements worth 15 billion rubles were concluded. Yevkurov believes that 9 to 10 billion rubles-worth of investments will be realized. Many projects begun in the past two years are already showing results. The republic's economy has improved, revenues are growing. Speaking of agriculture, Yevkurov noted that the country focuses on five areas. Investments should be directed towards these areas with the help of federal target programs, with preference given to those who want to produce their own products. These spheres are gardening, horticulture, fisheries, pond farms and meat and milk production. The republic is building a meat and dairy complex, an enterprise called Atlas was built to process vegetables and fruits. Currently, Ingushetia is electing 50 top farmers who grow cattle to support them and give them the opportunity to expand and supply their products to the meat and dairy complex. Similar work is being carried out in the spheres of fisheries and vegetable production. In 2012 major emphasis was placed on social development, building of schools and kindergartens. Due to previous neglect of this sphere, 60-70% of the budget had to be spent for this purpose. The situation has improved and now only half of the money is being spent. As suggested by the head of the region, in 2015 the republic will have 5 billion in revenues. This will allow it to maintain schools, kindergartens and medical institutions. Yevkurov said that the government of Ingushetia has a strategy of Ingushetia's development up until 2030. ***The year 2015 has been declared the year of gardening in Dagestan. The newspaper Dagestani Pravda reports that the decision is very timely. Dagestan has always been famous for its gardens. For example, in the 1980s gardens occupied more than 65 thousand hectares in Dagestan, which gave a powerful impetus to the development of the canning industry. Unfortunately, today there only about 26 thousand hectares of gardens in the country, of which only 20 thousand hectares are fruit gardens. The gardens also have low yields. In many villages orchards have been abandoned. As a result, Dagestan does not meet even half of its own needs in fruits. Given the situation and the potential for development of horticulture, 2015 has been declared the year of gardening in the republic. The article talks about a package of measures needed to stimulate the revival of horticulture, starting with creating an inventory of gardens and nurseries, restoring harvest processing. The importance of the horticultural industry for creating jobs among the rural population is also being discussed. Particular emphasis will be placed on encouraging the development of an intensive type of gardening, which has recently become widespread in the country. It was proposed to undertake a deep analysis of the state of the industry, create a roster of suitable lands, prepare an estimate of the costs of planting gardens on terraces in river valleys and on hillsides. A working group of the Ministry of Agriculture will be created in Dagestan as well as special courses aimed at training gardeners.***A labor exchange has been created in Armenia, in the framework of the EU-funded program "Targeted Initiative for Armenia." It is aimed at stimulating the return of Armenians to their historic homeland, local weekly Business Express reports. The budget of the program amounts to 3 million euros, while its implementation period is 3 years. The program is implemented by 8 EU countries under the leadership of the Agency for Migration and Integration in France with the participation of the German Society for International Cooperation. The newspaper writes that the labor exchange is mainly focused on returning highly qualified employees to Armenia. There is a lack of professionals in various sectors of the economy at the moment. The labor exchange will help people find jobs in Armenia and provide Armenian companies with professionals. The deputy chief of the State Employment Agency of the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs, Garik Sahakyan, noted that many professionals are willing to work in Armenia even with lower wages than they are paid abroad, just to return to their homeland. Nevertheless, the lowest salary offered by the labor exchange program amounts to approximately $850 a month. In general, 9 Armenian enterprises came up with a total of 30 vacancies, while 75 people expressed their desire to take part in the program. ***The newspaper Republic of Abkhazia reports that last week the republic of Abkhazia was visited by a delegation of 20 businessmen from Turkey, who wanted to establish and develop business relationships with local businesses. The delegation included representatives of travel agencies, construction, trade, industrial, automobile and medical companies. Prime Minister of Abkhazia Beslan Butba thanked them for a recent warm welcome in Turkey given to Abkhaz businessmen and representatives of the Chamber of Commerce. He noted that the country was ready to cooperate with many investors. "Our economic niches are available, we are waiting for investors. Our government has developed legislation that will provide them with complete safety," he said. The prime minister added that from January 1, 2015 the law on free trade with the Russian Federation, which offers great opportunities for investors, comes into effect in Abkhazia. Projects for various industries were discussed, including the reconstruction of the complex of the former Council of Ministers in the center of Sukhumi by Turkish businesses. It could accommodate a shopping and a business center. The chairman of the board of a large Turkish travel agency "Akmis Seyahat," Ruhi Karaalp, announced that they have signed a contract with a travel agency at the Chamber of Commerce of Abkhazia: starting from 2015 Turkey will send travellers to Abkhazia and accept Abkhaz tourists at home. The Prime Minister invited the Turkish guests to look at the project of reconstructing the infrastructure of Sukhumi airport and seaport. The government of Abkhazia is interested in restoring them, but doesn't have the international documents or permits necessary to do so.
"Azerbaijan and Russia are working hard to improve regional cooperation between the two countries," the Baku newspaper New Time writes. The newspaper notes that Azerbaijan cooperates with the constituents of the Russian Federation in various spheres. Bilateral agreements with the administrations of Moscow, Stavropol, Saratov, Sverdlovsk, St. Petersburg, Novosibirsk, Kemerovo, Tomsk, Voronezh, Nizhny Novgorod, Kurgan, Chelyabinsk, Astrakhan, the Moscow region, as well as the republics of Tatarstan, Bashkortostan and Mordovia have been signed. Similar agreements are scheduled to be signed with other subjects of the Russian Federation. Meetings, trade fairs, exhibitions, forums, conferences and other events with the participation of representatives of government agencies and business communities are being held.
More than 50 agreements relating to trade and economic issues have been signed between the countries since the collapse of the USSR. In early June this year a Memorandum of Understanding between the Ministry of Economy and Industry of Azerbaijan and the Ministry of Economic Development of Russia was signed. There is an agreement to establish a joint investment fund. During the first half of 2014 the trade turnover between Azerbaijan and Russia grew 10% compared with the same period last year, amounting to 1.086 billion dollars. Currently there are 570 companies with Russian capital in Azerbaijan. Russian business plays an important role in the diversification of the economy of Azerbaijan and development of its non-oil sectors. An additional impetus to the expansion and deepening of bilateral relations was the Fifth Azerbaijani-Russian Forum in Gabala which took place in June 2014. It has become a powerful platform for discussing priorities of interregional economic cooperation, socio-political, cultural and humanitarian issues and other aspects of the implementation of joint projects. One of the projects which developed in the framework of this forum was a roadmap for the construction of a border bridge across the Samur River, in order to improve the road connection between the two countries.
***
The head of Ingushetia, Yunus-Bek Yevkurov, in an interview with the newspaper "Ingushetia" stressed the positive dynamic of development in the republic. In 2012 and 2013 the republic was one of the top 20 best regions of Russia. The head of the region hopes that this year and next year Ingushetia will increase its economic and social potential significantly. There has been an increase in investment in the republic. If in 2012 agreements worth 5 billion rubles were concluded, this year agreements worth 15 billion rubles were concluded. Yevkurov believes that 9 to 10 billion rubles-worth of investments will be realized. Many projects begun in the past two years are already showing results. The republic's economy has improved, revenues are growing.
Speaking of agriculture, Yevkurov noted that the country focuses on five areas. Investments should be directed towards these areas with the help of federal target programs, with preference given to those who want to produce their own products. These spheres are gardening, horticulture, fisheries, pond farms and meat and milk production. The republic is building a meat and dairy complex, an enterprise called Atlas was built to process vegetables and fruits.
Currently, Ingushetia is electing 50 top farmers who grow cattle to support them and give them the opportunity to expand and supply their products to the meat and dairy complex. Similar work is being carried out in the spheres of fisheries and vegetable production.
In 2012 major emphasis was placed on social development, building of schools and kindergartens. Due to previous neglect of this sphere, 60-70% of the budget had to be spent for this purpose. The situation has improved and now only half of the money is being spent. As suggested by the head of the region, in 2015 the republic will have 5 billion in revenues. This will allow it to maintain schools, kindergartens and medical institutions.
Yevkurov said that the government of Ingushetia has a strategy of Ingushetia's development up until 2030.
***
The year 2015 has been declared the year of gardening in Dagestan. The newspaper Dagestani Pravda reports that the decision is very timely. Dagestan has always been famous for its gardens. For example, in the 1980s gardens occupied more than 65 thousand hectares in Dagestan, which gave a powerful impetus to the development of the canning industry. Unfortunately, today there only about 26 thousand hectares of gardens in the country, of which only 20 thousand hectares are fruit gardens. The gardens also have low yields. In many villages orchards have been abandoned. As a result, Dagestan does not meet even half of its own needs in fruits. Given the situation and the potential for development of horticulture, 2015 has been declared the year of gardening in the republic.
The article talks about a package of measures needed to stimulate the revival of horticulture, starting with creating an inventory of gardens and nurseries, restoring harvest processing. The importance of the horticultural industry for creating jobs among the rural population is also being discussed. Particular emphasis will be placed on encouraging the development of an intensive type of gardening, which has recently become widespread in the country. It was proposed to undertake a deep analysis of the state of the industry, create a roster of suitable lands, prepare an estimate of the costs of planting gardens on terraces in river valleys and on hillsides. A working group of the Ministry of Agriculture will be created in Dagestan as well as special courses aimed at training gardeners.
***
A labor exchange has been created in Armenia, in the framework of the EU-funded program "Targeted Initiative for Armenia." It is aimed at stimulating the return of Armenians to their historic homeland, local weekly Business Express reports. The budget of the program amounts to 3 million euros, while its implementation period is 3 years. The program is implemented by 8 EU countries under the leadership of the Agency for Migration and Integration in France with the participation of the German Society for International Cooperation.
The newspaper writes that the labor exchange is mainly focused on returning highly qualified employees to Armenia. There is a lack of professionals in various sectors of the economy at the moment. The labor exchange will help people find jobs in Armenia and provide Armenian companies with professionals. The deputy chief of the State Employment Agency of the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs, Garik Sahakyan, noted that many professionals are willing to work in Armenia even with lower wages than they are paid abroad, just to return to their homeland. Nevertheless, the lowest salary offered by the labor exchange program amounts to approximately $850 a month. In general, 9 Armenian enterprises came up with a total of 30 vacancies, while 75 people expressed their desire to take part in the program.
***
The newspaper Republic of Abkhazia reports that last week the republic of Abkhazia was visited by a delegation of 20 businessmen from Turkey, who wanted to establish and develop business relationships with local businesses. The delegation included representatives of travel agencies, construction, trade, industrial, automobile and medical companies. Prime Minister of Abkhazia Beslan Butba thanked them for a recent warm welcome in Turkey given to Abkhaz businessmen and representatives of the Chamber of Commerce. He noted that the country was ready to cooperate with many investors. "Our economic niches are available, we are waiting for investors. Our government has developed legislation that will provide them with complete safety," he said. The prime minister added that from January 1, 2015 the law on free trade with the Russian Federation, which offers great opportunities for investors, comes into effect in Abkhazia.
Projects for various industries were discussed, including the reconstruction of the complex of the former Council of Ministers in the center of Sukhumi by Turkish businesses. It could accommodate a shopping and a business center. The chairman of the board of a large Turkish travel agency "Akmis Seyahat," Ruhi Karaalp, announced that they have signed a contract with a travel agency at the Chamber of Commerce of Abkhazia: starting from 2015 Turkey will send travellers to Abkhazia and accept Abkhaz tourists at home.
The Prime Minister invited the Turkish guests to look at the project of reconstructing the infrastructure of Sukhumi airport and seaport. The government of Abkhazia is interested in restoring them, but doesn't have the international documents or permits necessary to do so.
