President Ilham Aliyev has announced that approximately 90,000 people are currently living, working, and studying in the Garabagh and East Zangezur economic regions of Azerbaijan.
According to the Operative Information Center-OMM, the head of state made these remarks while addressing the opening ceremony of the 2026 Annual Meetings of the Islamic Development Bank Group in Baku. President Ilham Aliyev noted that more than $15 billion has been allocated from the state budget to implement various infrastructure and residential projects in these regions.
"When all financial sources are taken into account, the total volume of investments directed to the liberated territories is close to 17 billion US dollars," the President stated.
Since the liberation of these territories in 2020, Azerbaijan has prioritized the large-scale reconstruction of the region, focusing on the "Great Return" program. This initiative involves rebuilding destroyed cities, villages, and critical infrastructure, such as airports, roads, and power grids, to facilitate the safe and dignified return of former internally displaced persons to their ancestral lands. The significant financial commitment underscores the government's long-term strategy to reintegrate these regions into the national economy.
