BUILT BY GIANTS
Bursting with history and tradition, the Ganja Region embodies everything that makes Azerbaijan such a unique place to visit. And with Ganja City crowned European Youth Capital for 2016, all eyes will be on this picturesque destination.
Ganja Region has been shaped by centuries of conquest and re-conquest, with Arabs, Khazars, Seljuks, and even Mongols all eyeing the prize at various points in history. The city of Ganja itself has been inhabited for over 4,000 years, and is located on the Ganja-Gazakh plain. Today, the city is best known for its association with Nizami Ganjavi, the 12th century poet who dramatically influenced the development of poetry in languages such as Persian, Arabic, Turkish, Kurdish, and Urdu. Visitors to the city seldom miss the chance to visit the great poet's mausoleum, a towering monument that lies just outside of Ganja City. The mausoleum was originally built in 1947 to replace an old, collapsed structure, and took on its present appearance in 1991.
The city is Azerbaijan's second largest and lies 363km away from the capital, Baku, and boasts a modern railway station, international airport, and network of highways. And while much attention has been lavished on Baku in recent years as it host major international events including the Eurovision Song Contest 2012, the 2015 European Games, and the upcoming European Grand Prix in 2016, Ganja itself has much to shout about, having been named European Youth Capital for 2016. Speaking to TBY, Elmar Rustam oglu Valiyev, Mayor of Ganja, said; “This will create opportunities to promote the history and culture of Azerbaijan, the traditions of multiculturalism and tolerance inherent in our society, and communicate the truth about Azerbaijan to the European public using the example of one city." Ganja beat off competition including Bulgaria's Varna, Lithuania's Vilnius, and Spain's la Laguna and Badajoz to take the prize.
But whatever brings guests to Ganja, they rarely leave disappointed. The city also boasts the recently renovated Imamzade religious complex, featuring a mauseleum and mosque dating to the eighth century, as well as numerous other historical relics, such as the Palace of Sultan Darus and numerous other towers, mosques, madrasas, baths, and traditional caravanserais. And for those interested in the history of the state of Azerbaijan, guests are welcome at the parliament of the Democratic Republic of Azerbaijan, of which Ganja was the capital when the country first gained independence in 1918.
Outside the city, the region is famous for Goygol Lake and reserve, a mountain lake surrounded by mountains that was forged by the destructive power of an earthquake that reshaped the land in the 12th century.
When asked what was in store for the future of Ganja, Mayor Valiyev was more than upbeat. “This year we embarked on the construction of the Ganja State Philharmonic Hall, a seven-storey hotel called Majestic in the city center, and a shopping center covering a large area, and the reconstruction of the Caravanserai hotel complex built in the seventh century." The region is also gearing up to celebrate the 875th birthday of Nizami Ganjavi, a momentous time for the city and Azerbaijan at large.
BUILT BY GIANTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Year In Review
Good Times Ahead
<strong></strong><strong>In a year dominated by the overarching theme of low hydrocarbons prices, Azerbaijan showed resilience and verve in putting in place bold measures both to counter the slump in energy prices and put its economy on a surer footing.</strong>
read articleReview: Diplomacy
Operation Outreach
In 2015, Azerbaijan's military budget increased by a notable 27%, to $4.8 billion, or 17.9% of the government's total budget for the year. The first Azerbaijan Defence Exhibition (ADEX 2014), drew over 200 companies from 34 countries, including Russia and the US.
read articleInterview
Rufat Mammadov, President, Azerbaijan Export and Investment Promotion Foundation (AZPROMO)
TBY talks to Rufat Mammadov, President of the Azerbaijan Export and Investment Promotion Foundation (AZPROMO), on large-scale events and their ability to attract FDI and the potential Iran may hold.
read articleReview: Banking
More Interest
In a sector faced with relatively flat growth for 2015-16, new opportunities are still there aplenty, led by the nascent Islamic banking sector, e-banking, and microfinance initiatives. Together, these areas should make banking more diversified and less reliant on a buoyant energy sector for its capital inlay.
read articleReview: Capital Markets
Taking Stock
As Azerbaijan grapples with the knock-on effects of low hydrocarbon prices, the Baku Stock Exchange (BSE) finds itself at the center of the country's efforts to stave off a budget deficit this year. In January, the government announced plans to sell $500 million worth of bonds on the BSE.
read articleReview: Industry & Mining
In The Bag
Industry in Azerbaijan is long established, diversified, and, in many areas, fast growing. Together, these qualities make the sector well placed to see through the global slump in commodity prices, while at home, the manufacturing industry continues to find ways to use its hydrocarbons expertise in other fields, including high technologies and research.
read articleInterview
Khanlar Fatiyev, , Chairman of the Supervisory Board, Ganja Automobile Plant Production Association
TBY talks to Khanlar Fatiyev, Chairman of the Supervisory Board of the Ganja Automobile Plant Production Association, on the role of the plant in driving growth in the non-oil sector.
read articleReview: Transport
The New Node
With major new railways linking the region, the opening of the new Baku International Sea Trade Port Complex, the completion of a massive program of road building and upgrading, investment in state-of-the-art fleets ranging from Boeing 787s to rail locomotives, Azerbaijan can rightly claim the title as the Caucasus' transportation hub.
read articleReview: Agriculture
Lots More
Farms across the country are pursuing a policy of increased yields for year-round fruit and in the wheat harvest to stave off an over-reliance on imports. With carefully targeted increases in exports, better routes to port and to market, and greater sophistication of agricultural facilities, farming could soon be the morning star of Azerbaijan's diversified economy.
read articleReview: Health
Under One Umbrella
Life expectancy at birth (2015) is 75 years for women and 70 for men. The median age is 30. For both sexes, longevity increased by six years between 2000 and 2012. Azerbaijan is a relatively youthful country—an important factor in healthcare—with 22% of its populace aged under 15 and just 9% aged over 60.
read articleReview: Education
Baku to School
Azerbaijan's culture has always harbored a deep respect for educational values. This is embodied in the country's Azerbaijan 2020 mission statement, which seeks to raise standards across the sector and introduce ICT as a standard part of the learning experience at all levels.
read articleInterview
Elkhan Mammadov,, Secretary General, Association of Football Federations of Azerbaijan (AFFA)
TBY talks to Elkhan Mammadov, Secretary General of the Association of Football Federations of Azerbaijan (AFFA), on the experience Azerbaijan is gaining in hosting international events.
read article