OMM Redaksiyası
“A decree on the establishment of the Western Industrial Park was signed recently. Industrial parks already operate in many regions of Azerbaijan, practically in every region, along with agroparks. Their activities have generated billions of manats in additional value and strengthened our export potential,” President Ilham Aliyev said.
“Operative Information Center-OMM” reports that he made the remarks at a meeting dedicated to the State Program for the Development of the Mining and Metallurgical Industries.
Aliyev said the main purpose of establishing the Western Industrial Park was to develop the mining industry. He said the exploitation of the Dashkasan ore deposit and implementation of other projects in nearby areas had necessitated the park’s creation.
“Infrastructure must be established here as soon as possible, and the necessary funds should be allocated in the state budget for this purpose. A complete chain in the mining industry, extending to the final product, must be created. This includes ore extraction and the establishment of several plants. Concentration, pellet and briquetted iron plants should be built,” the president said.
He stressed that transporting the ore would be especially important and called for tariff concessions to ensure the projects were economically viable. Aliyev also demanded comprehensive environmental assessments and compliance with all environmental standards.
“Our main wealth is not even the resources underground, but our nature. Therefore, we demand and will continue to demand from foreign partners that nature be protected and that environmental standards meet the highest requirements. If they fail to comply, they will be punished. Naturally, the state-owned AzerGold must meet all environmental standards,” he said.
The Western Industrial Park is intended to support the development of mining and related processing capacities in Azerbaijan, including infrastructure, ore beneficiation and production facilities. Such integrated industrial projects are aimed at increasing domestic value-added production and supporting exports.
