SECRETARY CLINTON: AZERBAIJAN IS AN IMPORTANT AND RELIABLE SUPPLIER OF ENERGY TO WORLD MARKETS
In a letter addressed to President Ilham Aliyev on the occasion of the opening of the 17th Caspian International Oil and Gas Conference in Baku, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton commended the key role played by Azerbaijan in the region, its responsible development of energy resources leading to rapid economic progress as well as the partnership between the two countries
“Your country has emerged as an important and reliable supplier of energy to world markets. Azerbaijan is an example of how energy resources hold the promise of linking people through trade and investment. Your country’s commitment to develop its resources in a responsible manner has resulted in rapid economic progress and the creation of professional opportunities for thousands of Azerbaijani citizens. This in turn has enhanced your country’s independence. Working closely with your regional neighbors, including Georgia and Turkey, Azerbaijan has successfully developed the East-West Energy Corridor, including the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline and South Caucasus gas pipeline. These projects epitomize what can be achieved with dedication and cooperation. The United States is proud to have been a partner of Azerbaijan in realizing these important projects”, Secretary said.
“As we look to the future, the United States supports your efforts to develop your oil and natural gas fields and to diversify your energy supply routes. This will benefit Azerbaijan as a producer country, while also enhancing energy security for consumer countries. In particular, we look forward to Azerbaijan’s continued leadership in realizing the Southern Corridor for gas transport to Europe in the near future. In Azerbaijan’s drive to continue developing its energy resources, you will find a strong partner in the United States”, Secretary said.
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AZERBAIJAN’S FIRST SATELLITE TO BE LAUNCHED IN 2012
Azerbaijan has signed a contract with Orbital Sciences Corp. to design, build and deliver its first telecommunications satellite
The AzerSat spacecraft will be launched in 2012 into the 46 degrees east longitude orbital position.
Azerbaijan views the AzerSat satellite, whose manufacture, launch and insurance is estimated to cost around $200 million, as the first pillar of what it intends as a new national space program coordinated by a newly-established national space agency “AzerCosmos”.
The satellite will be based on Orbital’s flight-proven STAR-2 platform and will generate approximately five kilowatts of payload power for 36 active transponders. Upon completion of in-orbit testing, operational control of the satellite will be handed over to Azerbaijan’s Ministry of Communications and IT, which will continue to operate the spacecraft from its control center in Baku.
Ali Abbasov, Minister of Communications and IT of the Republic of Azerbaijan, said that “The AzerSat project is a keystone to the advancement and progress of Azerbaijan as we significantly expand our communications infrastructure within our borders and our connectivity to Europe, Central Asia, Africa and the Middle East.”
Orbital Sciences Corp., a U.S. company, develops and manufactures small- and medium-class rockets and space systems for commercial, military and civil government customers.
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AZERBAIJAN TO ESTABLISH
‘E-GOVERNMENT’
The Cabinet of Ministers of Azerbaijan adopted a regulation confirming a 2010-2011 action plan on forming e-government in the country, the Ministry of Communications and IT reported
The action plan is designed to improve methods of governance through broader use of modern information and communication technologies in government bodies, and organization of e-services, as well as implementation of comprehensive measures to provide a simplified and free access of citizens and organizations to these services.
According to the Cabinet’s regulation, the Ministry of Communications and IT will be coordinating the implementation of the action plan.
Formation and development of e-government in Azerbaijan is expected to lead to increased efficiency and improved public services, as well as more transparency and accountability.
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NEW OIL AND GAS PROCESSING COMPLEX TO BE BUILT IN BAKU
State Oil Company of Azerbaijan (SOCAR) plans to build a new oil and gas processing and petrochemical complex near Baku, scheduled for completion between 2018 and 2019
SOCAR said the planned facility would include a 40-billion cm/year gas processing plant, a 15-million t/year oil refinery, as well as chemical, petrochemical, and power plants.
As an additional outlet for rising oil and gas production, the new complex will enable Azerbaijan to process more volumes of oil and gas within the country.
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PRESENTATION OF AZERBAIJAN AT INTERNATIONAL TRADE EXHIBITION IN PENNSYLVANIA
In the framework of the celebration of the Republic Day of Azerbaijan, the Embassy of Azerbaijan, in cooperation with the US-Azerbaijan Chamber of Commerce (USACC), participated at the International Trade Conference and Exhibition organized on May 27 by the World Trade Center of Central Pennsylvania in Camp Hill, PA
Azerbaijan’s exhibition stand presented various books, booklets, maps and DVDs on the country’s growing economic potential, tourism, business and investment opportunities, the development of its IT industry and large-scale projects implemented in this field, as well as on Azerbaijani culture and arts.
Documentary films on Azerbaijan’s economic and social development, history, culture and nature shown at the stand attracted the attention of exhibition attendees. Numerous questions of attendees were answered by Embassy and USACC representatives.
