SINCE THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR THE VOLUME OF THE INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTION IN AZERBAIJAN HAS MADE 6.4 TRLN MANATS
BAKU.21.04.2004.MEDIA-PRESS:
The volume of the industrial production in Azerbaijan made 6.4 trln manats for three months of the current year (4920 manats - $1) and exceeded the analogous rate of 2003 by 4.2%.
BAKU.21.04.2004.MEDIA-PRESS:
The external turnover of Azerbaijan increased by 33.4% compared to the same period of 2003 for two months of 2004. The rate of the export increased by 7.6% compared to the analogous period of the past year and made $252.8 MM, the import volume - by 55.4% and made $425.7 MM.
BAKU.21.04.2004.MEDIA-PRESS:
In the mid of May the delegation of industrial circles of Germany will visit to Baku and discuss issues of investments to the Azerbaijan economy. The Ambassador of Germany in Azerbaijan Mr. Claus Grevlich has informed journalists about this.
BAKU.21.04.2004.MEDIA-PRESS:
The WB and the government of Azerbaijan are preparing for the new joint project "The Development of the Market Services".
BAKU.21.04.2004.MEDIA-PRESS:
On May the third international exhibition "Transport and Logistics" ("TransCaspian-2004") will be held. The British Exhibition Company ITE Group PLC and its partner in Azerbaijan Iteca Caspian Ltd. has organized it at the suggestion of the Ministry of Transport, Trade-Industrial Chamber and Program of the EU TRACECA.
BAKU.21.04.2004.MEDIA-PRESS:
Today the American co-chairman of the Minsk Group of the OSCE on the Nagorni Karabakh, the Special Envoy of the US State Department on the Karabakh and Eurasian conflicts Mr. Steven Mann arrives in Baku. Before he has visited Yerevan, where met with the President Robert Kocharyan and conducted consultations with he Foreign Minister of unrecognized "NKR" Mr. Ashot Gulyan.
BAKU.21.04.2004.MEDIA-PRESS:
The meeting of Ambassadors of the FRG in the South Caucasus and Central Asia countries will be held in Tbilisi on February 23. The Ambassador of Germany in Azerbaijan Mr. Claus Grevlich has informed journalists about this.
BAKU.21.04.2004.MEDIA-PRESS:
Baku approves the foundation of the Congress of the Azerbaijanis of Europe in Berlin on the past week. The Chief of the State Committee on work on with the Azerbaijanis living abroad Mr. Nazim Ibragimov has declared about this.
BAKU.21.04.2004.MEDIA-PRESS:
Since April 21 the OJC "Gazexport" (the branch company of the Russian "Gazprom") has stopped temporarily the gas deliveries to Azerbaijan in connection with the repairs of the Russian piece of the pipeline, by which "blue fuel" is delivered to the country.
BAKU.21.04.2004.MEDIA-PRESS:
The proved supplies of the OJC "LUKoil" exceed 20 bn bbl of oil equivalent.
BAKU.21.04.2004.MEDIA-PRESS:
Erivan conducts negotiations with Tehran on construction the gas pipeline Iran - Armenia only for satisfaction of only inner needs of the republic. The President of Armenia Robert Kocharyan has declared this on press conference.
BAKU.21.04.2004.MEDIA-PRESS:
On April 20 the discussion of the project of the pipeline Atasu - Alashankou will be held in the government of Kazakhstan. As the Premier of the country Mr. Danial Akhmetov has emphasized, the main parameters of the pipeline by length of 989 km have been discussed already and so the objective is in determination of measures on foundation of the joint enterprise with the Chinese side and the base model of the project.
BAKU.21.04.2004.MEDIA-PRESS:
The world price of bbl of oil will reach $51 by 2025. The report "The International Energy Prediction-2004" contains such estimate. The Information Office of the Ministry of Energy of the USA has prepared this report.
BAKU.21.04.2004.MEDIA-PRESS:
By 2010 the amount of the special ships for the transportation of the liquidated natural gas LNG will increase up to 286 units, the Iraninan agency SHANA reports.
BAKU.21.04.2004.MEDIA-PRESS:
The rate of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of Azerbaijan made 8.05 trln manats for three months of 2004 (4922 - $1) and this is by 10.6% more than for the analogous period of the past year.
BAKU.21.04.2004.MEDIA-PRESS:
The volume of investments to the economy of Azerbaijan from all sources made 5.441 trln manats and this exceeds the analogous rate of 2003 by 71.3%.
The production on the enterprises of processing industry has grown up by 18.2% and by 1.4% in the producing industry, by 8% in sectors of production and electric energy, gas and water.
Totally for January - March production by 2.85 trln manats have been produced in the production industry, by 2.92 trln manats in the processing, by 630 bn manats in the electric, gas and water supplying.
A share of manufacturing field made 44.6% of all volume of produced production; 45.7% - the processing field, electric, gas and water supplying - 9.7%.
The growth of the production in the producing industry made 1.9% and 16.3% in the processing one.
THE EXTERNAL TRADE TURNOVER OF AZERBAIJAN HAS MADE $678.5 MM FOR TWO MONTHS OF 2004
On January - February the EU's countries made 36.4% of total turnover, the CIS' countries - 31.6% and rest states - 32%. Totally the countries of Europe made 59.8% of turnover, the Asian countries - 36.1% and American countries - 3.8%, countries of Oceania - 0.3%.
During the mentioned period trade operations with 89 countries were carried out. Italy, Russia, Turkey, Kazakhstan, the Great Britain, France, Iran, Germany, Turkmenistan, the USA, Ukraine, China, Georgia, Sweden were the main trade partners of Azerbaijan. They made 80% of all export-import operations.
We shall note that in the past year the external turnover of Azerbaijan made $5.218 bn. The export made $2.592 bn, import - $2.626 bn. Totally in 2003 the negative balance by a volume of $34 MM resulted.
IN THE MID OF MAY DELEGATION OF INDUSTRIAL CIRCLES OF GERMANY WILL VISIT TO BAKU
By the words of the diplomat the staff of the Azerbaijan-German Council of Aid, where chiefs of local offices of the German companies in Azerbaijan have joined to and as well the Azerbaijan businessmen. During the visit the German businessmen will familiarize the investment climate in the country and different projects, in which Azerbaijan is interested will be presented to them.
Mr. K. Grevlikh has noted that the improved interest to Azerbaijan has been caused by the realization of oil projects, owing to which the country will earn up to $1 bn. The German businessmen intend to be engaged in non-oil field of Azerbaijan.
AZERBAIJAN AND THE WB DEVELOP THE PROJECT OF THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE MARKET SERVICES
As Media-Press has been informed in the Baku WB Office, the project consists of three components. The first one provides the improvement of finance services in the countryside. Mainly the Amalgamation "Azerpochta" gives pensions and other maintenances in villages, as not everywhere banks branches are available. The given component of the project provides the improvement of infrastructure of "Azerpochta" in way of creation of communication between 1200 post offices. Besides, 70 offices will be communicated between each other and by the means of fibro optic cable.
The second component of the project will be carry out in the bank sphere and directed for creation of the modern payment system. An at last the third component is aimed to provide the laboratory of the Committee of Standardization, Metrology and patents by the modern equipment. This allows improving checking of quality of produced production taking local and international standards into account and gives and opportunity of export to local producers.
Now experts of the WB and Azerbaijan are discussing the components of the project. After this the direct work on its development will begin. Expectedly the project will be presented to the Board of the Directors of the WB on June of this year already.
THE EXHIBITION "TRANSPORT AND LOGISTICS" (TRANSCASPIAN-2004) WILL BE HELD IN BAKU
Following sections will be exhibited: cars, railway, aircraft and sea transport, ports and terminals, oil transportation and pipelines, logistics, currier services and shipment-unloading equipment.
Enterprises and companies operating in the transport sphere and producing equipment for it will be presented on the exhibitions. They are the Russian "Energomashexport", the Azov Mashinery Plant, The Russian Marine Register and also the Batum Sea Port, the Azerbaijan Aircraft Companies "The Azerbaijan Airlines" (AZAL) and IMAIR, the Caspian Shipping Company and the Baku International Sea Port, Khazar Shipping Co, etc.
By forecasts of the organizers of the exhibitions, no less 7 thou men will visit to the exhibitions.
In the past year Baku exhibition "TransCaspian-2003" 47 companies from 15 countries took part in the past year Baku exhibition fromm 15 countries, and about 5 thou professional visitors presenting chiefs of the highest group of the companies of the energy sector, construction and food industry.
MR. STEVEN MANN WILL CONSIDER PROBLEMS OF ADJUSTMENT OF THE NAGORNI KARABAKH CONFLICT IN BAKU
In the Azerbaijan capital he will conduct negotiations with the President of Azerbaijan Mr. Ilham Aliyev, the Foreign Minister of Azerbaijan Mr. Elmar Mamedyarov and other officials. Adjustment of the Armenian-Karabakh conflic will become the main issue of discussions.
Mr. S. Mann has been appointed the co-chairman in the MG OSCE from the USA side on the past week. As well Russia and France are co-chairmen of the Minsk Group. We shall note that Mr. S. Mann, who is the special official of the state department on energy resources of the Caspian Sea, has been engaged in issues of realization of oil pipeline Baku - Tbilisi - Ceyhan, the Caspian Pipeline Consortium and other projects.
THE MEETING OF AMBASSADORS OF GERMANY IN THE SOUTH CAUCASUS AND CENTRAL ASIA COUNTRIES WILL PASS IN TBILISI
By his words, the participants of the meeting will consider issues of ensuring peace and stability in the regional countries, which are on the transient stage of their development. Mr. K. Grevlich has noted that existence of regional conflicts particularly, the Nagorni-Karabakh one affects negatively on process of building of market economy in these countries.
We shall note that today the Foreign Minister of Germany Mr. Yoshka Fisher visits to Baku from Kabul for discussion of cooperation issues in sphere of economy, policy, safety and culture with the Azerbaijan leaders. Three deputies will accompany the Minister, and one of them is the former Minister of Defense of Germany, the Chief of the Commission of Bundestag on the international relations Mr. Folker Ryuhe. The visit program includes meetings with the authorities of the country and officials of the religious confessions of Azerbaijan. On April 22 the German delegation headed by Mr. J. Fisher will go to Erevan and then in Tbilisi.
BAKU WELCOMES THE FOUNDATION OF THE CONGRESS OF THE EUROPEAN AZERBAIJANIS
Mr. Ibragimov has noted that more 50 organizations of the Azerbaijan foreign community of the European countries have joined in the Congress and emphasized that the new organization "will allow intensify integration amongst the European Azerbaijanis and create a base for their active participation in the social-political life of the countries of their residence".
THE GAS DELIVERIES TO AZERBAIJAN HAS BEEN STOPPED TEMPORARILY
The gas deliveries will be restarted on April 24. Up to this date certain limitations in deliveries of natural gas to heating electric power stations and regions of Azerbaijan are introduced. Particularly, gas deliveries to regions of the country will be reduced by 30% and the largest heating electric power station of te country - the Azerbaijan SREPS will start use mazut as a fuel. 20% of usual gas volumes will be delivered to the Ali-Bayramli SREPS.
The limitations of gas deliveries will not touch only two electric power stations of the country - SREPS "Severnaya" and the Baku SREPS-1.
The gas import to Azerbaijan is carried out by means of system of gas pipelines Shirvanovka - Gazi-Magomed. In average 16 MM cubic meters of "blue fuel" are delivered daily to Azerbaijan.
On December of 2003 the contract on gas deliveries to Azerbaijan has been concluded between the SOCAR and "Gazexport" and for 2004 "Gazexport" has given all rights and liabilities on this contract to the company "KazRosGaz" (the JC between CJC "National Company "KazMunaiGaz" and OJC "Gazprom", each of them shares 50% of stocks). That means that the Company "KazRosGaz" executes contract relations and "Gazexport" guarantees entirely execution of all contract duties.
In 2004 deliveries to Azerbaijan by a volume of 5.5 bn cubic meters of gas are planned within frameworks of given agreement and 4.5 bn cubic meters of gas will be imported from Kazakhstan, and "Gazexport" will deliver 1 bn cubic meters from the own resources.
The gas import in Azerbaijan is carried out in purposes of covering of deficiency of and providing of the work of the electric stations of the country. Mainly, the imported gas is delivered to the Azerbaijan and Ali-Bairamli SREPS. In the first quarter of the current year more than 1.406 cubic meters of gas were imported.
The gas demands of Azerbaijan make about 12 - 14 bn cubic meters and the production of natural gas in the country makes about 5 bn cubic meters per a year.
TRUE SUPPLIES OF THE OJC "LUKOIL" EXCEED 20 BN BBL OF OIL EQUIVALENT
As it has been informed in the press-service of the company, "LUKoil" has completed account and independent audit of oil and gas supplies for January 2004. The Company stands still on the leading positions by true oil and gas supplies: the first place amongst the Russian oil companies and the second one amongst the largest private oil and gas companies after ExxonMobil.
The true hydrocarbon supplies of the company by January 1 of 2004 made 20.056-bn bbl of oil equivalent including 15.977 bn bbl of oil and 24.473 trln cubic feet of gas. In comparison with January 1, 2003, the proved supplies of hydrocarbons of the company have grown by 4% including 4.7% by oil and 1.3% by gas.
The geological exploration has become the main factor providing the growth of supplies. In 2003 the sinking in the exploration drilling has made 146 thou meters in total. 15 new hydrocarbon fields and 14 fields of oil on earlier opened fields have been opened. The fourth year in succession "LUKoil" compensates fully the growth in production of hydrocarbons.
ARMENIA HAS NOT DECIDED TO GO AGAINST RUSSIA IN THE GAS ISSUE
By his words, some another version is not considered, as it will appear problematic for the country. "We consider this project only within frameworks of increasing the energy safety of Armenia", - Mr. Kocharyan has emphasized and reminded that at the present time the construction of the second ETL is continued, and it will allow not only increase flows of electric energy between two countries, but also supply electric energy in exchange of gas. "The rest versions, I repeat, are problematic enough", - the President Kocharyan said.
We shall remind that recently the issue, whether the gas pipeline Iran - Armenia will be continued further - to Georgia, Ukraine and then Europe for exportation of the Iranian and even the Turkmen gas was discussed in the mass media, firstly the Russian. At the same time the mass media referred to expressions of the Ministry of Energy of Armenia Mr. Movsesyan, who by the words hurried to refuse of his own words. The Russian mass media have condemned the Armenian authorities about that the Republic, which receives the Russian gas conducts double play at the same time as the Iranian and Turkmen gas will create the strongest competition to the Russian gas monopoly on the European market if are delivered to Europe through Armenia.
Erivan has hurried to disprove these suggestions and Kocharyan really again has confirmed this on the press conference. However, several days earlier, the Foreign Minister of Iran Mr. Kyamal Kharrazi again has called the project of laying of the gas pipeline from Iran through Armenia and Ukraine to Europe the important. As Mr. K. Kharrai has noted, Iran is open for discussion of given issue.
At the same time the chief of the delegation of EU in Armenia and Georgia Mr. Torben Kholtse has not excluded the opportunity of delivery of the Iranian gas by the gas pipeline Iran - Armenia to Europe. And Mr. Kholtse has noted that the project of deliveries of the Iranian gas by the territory of Armenia to Europe is "he issue of the future and for the present this issue is not discussed".
The signing of final agreement on beginning of the construction of the gas pipeline Iran - Armenia is expected in the end of May during the visit of the Minister of Oil and Gas of the IRI Mr. Bijan Zangane. The construction of the gas pipeline will start supposedly in the end of the current year and will be completed in 2006. The cost of the project makes $120 MM, the length of the pipe - 141 km at a diameter by 700 mm. By the new gas pipeline Armenia will receive 700 MM cubic meters of hydrocarbon crude by the new gas pipeline with the next increase of volume of deliveries up to 1.5 bn cubic meters a year.
KAZAKHSTAN AND CHINA FOUND THE JOINT COMPANY FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF OIL PIPELINE
By the accounts of specialists, the oil demands of consumers in the western regions of the Public Republic of China will exceed offers in the next years and this tendency will increase each year. In result of construction of new line the Chinese side will receive oil not only from the Central Kazakhstan, but from the Caspian region. By today there are several versions of financing of the construction of the oil pipeline. The end negotiations will be held in the next week, KZ-today reports.
HOW MUCH WILL OIL COST BY 2025?
By opinion of experts, oil will remain still the main world energy resource in 20 years - its share amongst the rest energy sources will make 39% and its demand will grow up to 121 MM bbl per diem. The growth should occur firstly in account of the USA and also for the economic development of the Asian countries, mainly India and China.
286 SPECIAL SHIPS FOR TRANSPORTATION OF THE LNG WILL BE ACCOUNTED BY 2010
By data of the Korean Information Service in Ship Making Industry, in 2006 206 ships for transportation of the LNG will be available in the world. In 2006 - 2010 only 80 similar ships capable for carrying 186 thou cubic meters of the LNG may be built.
By this date Iran intends to build 15 similar ships as it plans to increase sharply the production of the LNG. It will be produced during the realization of 11 - 13 stages of the development of the largest field Yuzni Pars. As Iran News informs, during the realization of each phase, $1 bn s per annum will be earned and the production of the LNG will make 29 MM tons per annum.
FOR THREE MONTHS OF 2004 THE GDP OF AZERBAIJAN EXCEEDED 8 TRLN MANATS
The share of the industry in the GDP structure made 42.7%, agriculture - 2%, transport - 8.4%, the construction - 11.8%, communications - 2.9% and services and trade - 9.7%. The GDP per capita make 987 thou manats for three months.
We shall note that by results of the past year the GDP made 35.1 trln manats and 4.3 MM manats per capita. Expectely the GDP will make 37.3 trln manats in 2004.
In accordance with the State Program of the social-economic development of regions of Azerbaijan for 2004 - 2008, the GDP will make 76.3 trln manats by the end of this period and increase in 2.3 times compared to 2003. The GDP will make $1.578 thou per capita.
INVESTMENTS TO THE ECONOMY OF AZERBAIJAN IN THE FIRST QUARTER OF 2004 MADE 5.4 TRLN MANATS
A share of the foreign investments made 88.8% or 4.83 trln manats and inner investments - 11.25 or 609 bn manats. In comparison with the first quarter of 2003 the foreign investments increased by 79.6%.
The major share of investments was transferred to the oil sector - 84.6%. 0.6% of investments were transferred to the agricultural sector, 1,9% - to the construction, 0.8% - to the trade and services field, 5.7% - to the transport, communications - 2.8%.
Supposedly, totally in 2004 18 trln 405.4 bn manats and 14 trln 855.4 bn, inner - 3 trln 550 bn manats.
In the past year investments to the economy of the country in 2003 made $3 bn and since 1996 their total volume has made $16 bn. Up to date Azerbaijan occupies one of the first places amongst countries of the CIS and Europe by investments per capita.
The official rate of exchange by April 21 makes 4920 manats/$1.
