Ilham Aliyev: If we exclude the liberated territories, today the level of gasification in the country stands at 96%

After my first election as President in 2004, one of my first initiatives was the regional development program, of which agricultural development was an integral part. The first five-year program, adopted in early 2004, helped resolve many issues, and we realized that this program had to be continued. Several five-year regional development programs were adopted after that, and as a result, all regions received a new impetus for development, employment in the regions increased, and large-scale infrastructure projects were implemented.

President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev stated this at a meeting dedicated to agricultural issues.

"Today, it is impossible to imagine the overall development of Azerbaijan without these projects. Infrastructure projects envisioned in this program, including those for agricultural development, played a decisive role. After all, at that time there was practically no gas supply in the regions. Not only the regions but also Baku experienced major problems with electricity supply, with significant outages occurring. Roads were in a deplorable condition. Water supply had been practically completely cut off. In other words, this program played a decisive role in the revival of villages and the improvement of living standards for the rural population. Since then, large-scale infrastructure projects have been implemented in the regions.

If we exclude the liberated territories, today the level of gasification in the country stands at 96%. There are no electricity supply problems anywhere; we not only provide for ourselves but have even created enormous export potential. Numerous highways, intercity and rural roads have been built. Major reservoirs have been constructed, primarily Takhtakorpu, Shamkirchay, Goytapa, and others. Canals have been reconstructed, and this process continues. In short, the development of regions and agriculture proceeded at a rapid pace. As a result, agricultural production has significantly increased in many areas. I should also note that over these years, several state programs were adopted — on viticulture, cotton growing, hazelnut cultivation, citrus growing, and other sectors, the development of which received a significant boost," the head of state noted.