State Programme on socio-economic development of regions of the Republic of Azerbaijan for 2014-2018 years.

The State Programme on socio-economic development of regions of the Republic of Azerbaijan is a national Program with a multi-sectoral approach. The timeframe of the Program is 5 years, between 2014 and 2018. The overall objective of the Program is to ensure diversification of the economy, sustainable development of non-oil sector and regions, improvement of infrastructure and further is to increase rural employment in the industry sector.
Ecofriendly food production will be promoted. Water supply and sanitation services will be improved to ensure safe drinking water in regions.
Measures will be taken to develop agricultural production. Wheat production will be increased and competitiveness will be strengthened. Raw material production and processing industries of the agrarian sector will be improved. Clean technologies will be applied in plant growing and animal breeding. Agricultural producers will have access to irrigation water and sustainable use of land and water resources will be ensured. Afforestation and reforestation activities will be developed and afforestation areas will be expanded. The importance will be given to the protected natural areas for biodiversity conservation, ecosystem preservation and sustainable use of natural resources. In order to ensure environmental sustainability, adverse environmental impact of the fuel and energy sector will be neutralized, pollution will be controlled and marine area will be conserved. In addition waste domestic sources will be managed in regions.
Rural employment will be provided with specific focus on women and youth employment. In order to reduce rural poverty, new job opportunities will be created. Through the development of social protection system, living accommodations will be provided to low-income citizens in need of housing and welfare of senior citizens, low-income families and of vulnerable groups will be enhanced. Skills and capacities of people with disabilities will be developed and their employment opportunities will be increased. Capacity building will be ensured by expanding information and communication services and by providing education.
In order to ensure food safety and food availability, the development of agri-food industry will be supported. Socio-economic growth of the country, including food, agricultural and energy sector, will be ensured by (i) creating long-term domestic and foreign investment sources, (ii) improving the production, market and social infrastructure for entrepreneurship, (iii) boosting the development of entrepreneurship aiming at export-oriented and competitive production, (iv) improving quality standards of exported and exportable products and promoting enterprises for production complying with international standards in this area, (v) taking appropriate measures for strengthening positions and protection of interests of national producers at foreign markets and for creating national brands, (vi) ensuring diversification of economy, (vii) providing support for efficient cooperation between small, medium and large enterprises in regions, (viii) promoting application of innovative and high technology in the industrial sector, (ix) expanding the scope of entrepreneurship and (x) providing financial support to industries. In addition large enterprises for wheat, seed, seedling, grape growing and gardening will be established, the material and technical base will be strengthened, electronic registration system will applied for land and farmers and traditional agricultural sectors will be developed. Furthermore new thermal and hydropower stations will be constructed, use of alternative and renewable energy sources will be increased, gas supply will be improved in regions and existing power units will be modernized.