English version
Broadcasted by DPA, Germany Biggest Agency,
published in several leading newspapers in the
world
Luxury sedans and new SUV parked in front of the
window displays more expensive stores. The
once-gray facades in the Azerbaijani capital
Baku are dressed up in more and more streets
with sand-colored stone. Furthermore cranes lift
construction material in buildings, will be used
in their work in new offices and luxury
apartments. Everywhere, workers with a noise
impact hammers and power saws.
The city has spruced itself within a few years.
Luxury hotels have opened and provide foreign
businessmen sushi for breakfast, where
previously only greasy omelet was served with
sausages and white bread. In his twisting
stumbled upon the numerous Baugräben that were
torn up for the renewal of infrastructure.
Since the year 2006 rolls of dollars in oil and
gas rich Caucasus republic, for almost four
years ago now, the BTC adopted - pipelines to
operate. In it the black gold from Baku on the
Georgian capital Tbilisi to Ceyhan on Turkey's
Mediterranean coast is pumped - directly to the
Western energy markets.
Baku that a kind of "Dubai of the Caspian Sea"
will be, is in the two-million city is now a
household word. The approximately eight million
inhabitants, Azerbaijan hopes that it can
benefit permanently from their own natural
resources and its strategic position. For it
offers itself as a bridgehead for access to
Central Asian energy resources.
"We steer our course. We know what we want,"
said the Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar
Mammadyarov. "The energy resources are very
important for our national security, our
sovereignty and our way towards a regional
player."
A kind of bridge is also the office of the
German-Azerbaijani economic development
association in Baku. Visitors are faced with a
heavy metal door at first and then rise through
the still poorly-looking staircase up to the
office, where maps are drawn. It is about
strategies and concepts.
Managing Florian Schroeder is optimistic. "The
proven oil reserves are about $ 200 billion
worth.
The oil is still sufficient for 20 or 25 years,
"he says. Within three years the number of
German companies together in the club more than
doubled to 100. One focus is the construction
dar. Although the consequences of the global
financial crisis and the drop in oil prices in
Azerbaijan clearly felt. "But the A projects, ie,
five-star hotels, business complexes, major road
projects, they will proceed well. This continues
through the agreed level, "says Schroeder. This
also applies to the sale of luxury goods and
cars." What is the German role here? Technology,
knowledge, advice, "he says.
Knowledge and professional expertise of its own
people are a weak point of Azerbaijan.
A lecturer of the Azerbaijan State Oil Academy
in Baku said he was convinced there was in the
country only three schools to meet the
international standards. Those who have
money, send their children to schools abroad.
His name, he'd rather not see printed. Criticism
comes in Azerbaijan are often not good.
Vugar Bayramov is an Azerbaijani business
expert, whose "think tank", Center for Economic
and Social Development (CESD), Baku has called
for investigations and reports in several
economic reforms to overcome the almost total
dependence on oil and gas. "Oil makes 90 percent
of exports, and represents the bulk of the gross
national product," he says.
At present, for each day approximately 15
million U.S. dollars from oil revenues to
Azerbaijan. To traverse money for future
generations, since 2001, will be deposited in a
Government Petroleum Fund, which is currently
heavily over $ 14.9 billion.
A directive stipulates that one quarter of oil
money will be transferred into the fund.
For this year's oil revenues are projected in
the amount of 5.9 billion U.S. dollars. Of
these, 60 percent invested in the state budget,
34 percent state in various programs. Only six
percent will be completed in the oil fund. In
addition, the promotion will reach its peak in
2013, then the flow is decreasing.
"If it continues like this could be the oil fund
in 2015 to be empty," warned Bayramov.
"The problem is the high degree of
monopolization. For each sector there is an
oligarch. There is a lack of competition," he
says. "The market is absurd prices demanded, and
often several times the price in Europe. Let's
take a simple example.
A cup of coffee costs in the center of Baku easy
ten euros, 17 euros, sometimes. "
Anyone who has a part of the cake, defended him
with hands and feet. "Azerbaijan in 1997 applied
for membership of the WTO. The negotiations are
now running for 13 years. The oligarchic system
is against the candidate," said Bayramov. "The
biggest risk is that rising inequality.
Officially, twelve percent of people live below
the poverty line of 75 manat per month (about 69
euros) per head. In reality, there are more than
one third."
The process must begin in the public
administration, says political consultant. "It
should go about fighting corruption and to limit
monopolies. Step by step. The people will be on
the side of the president, not on the side of
monopoly interests," he expected. "The president
is strong, reform-oriented. But there are many
different interests.
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