The main issue facing our state today is the reconstruction and restoration of the liberated territories, including the return of former internally displaced persons to their native lands. Despite the allocation of over 25 billion manats from the state budget for these purposes, programs planned for other regions of the country are also being successfully continued. Today, all regions of Azerbaijan are experiencing a period of balanced development.
These words were stated by Azər Badamov, Deputy Chairman of the Milli Majlis Committee on Economic Policy, Industry, and Entrepreneurship, in an interview with AZERTAC.
He noted that Shamakhi district is one of our rapidly developing regions. President Ilham Aliyev's recent visit to Shamakhi district indicates that the policy of socio-economic development of regions has entered a new phase. The opening of the "Shirvan Agro" livestock complex and a modern lyceum building, as well as the emphasis on tourism potential, confirm the formation of a comprehensive development model for this region.
The development of the country's agricultural sector to achieve self-sufficiency in domestic demand and food security is a priority of state policy. Today, 35-40 percent of the employed population in the country works in the agricultural sector. The potential for developing the agricultural sector through the application of new technologies is very large, and comprehensive work is underway to achieve goals in this direction. The livestock complex inaugurated by the head of state in Shamakhi is aimed at improving the quality of indicators in this regard. In the initial phase, 200 permanent jobs have been created at the complex, and indirectly, the number of jobs created will exceed 300. Naturally, this complex will primarily increase Shamakhi's agricultural potential by up to 20 percent and contribute to solving employment issues in the district.
"The process of reconstruction and restoration of educational institutions in the country is continuing rapidly. Over the past 20 years, more than 3,500 educational institutions in our country have been reconstructed and restored, creating modern conditions for teachers to work and students to study. The Heydar Aliyev Foundation, led by Mehriban Aliyeva, is also actively participating in this process within the framework of the 'New School for a Renewed Azerbaijan' project. At the initiative of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, more than 500 school buildings have been reconstructed and put into use in the country. Among them, the reconstruction and restoration of the Shamakhi European Lyceum, a school building with a capacity of 1200 students put into use in Shamakhi, will play a significant role not only for Shamakhi but also for students in surrounding districts to acquire knowledge in modern conditions," A. Badamov emphasized.
According to the deputy, Shamakhi is a district with great tourism potential. The district's proximity to the capital, along with the modern reconstruction of roads, including the commissioning of modern tourism centers and hotels, has led to a sharp increase in the number of tourists visiting here. Thus, in the last 5 years, the tourist flow to the region has increased by an average of 10-12 percent annually, and employment in the tourism sector has expanded by nearly 20 percent.
The projects inaugurated during President Ilham Aliyev's visit to Shamakhi show that the development of regions is transitioning to a phased, integrated economic model. Modernizing the agricultural sector, improving the quality of education, and expanding tourism are being carried out in parallel, ensuring the long-term sustainable development of the regions. This approach can transform Shamakhi into one of the country's most dynamic and competitive economic centers in the near future.