POWERFUL PERSPECTIVES
President Ilham Aliyev has declared 2016 the Year of Multiculturalism for Azerbaijan in an effort to promote and spread the country's long and diverse cultural heritage.
As a country that sits at the historic crossroads between the East and West and the North and South, it comes as no surprise that Azerbaijan is also the meeting place of many different cultures and lifestyles. Multiculturalism is an ideal that has lived at the heart of Azerbaijan since the country's inception, playing an important and often prominent role throughout its complex and interesting history. President Aliyev's declaration comes at an interesting time as well. Uncertainty permeates the international market, with devaluations and market slides recurring all over the globe as well as in the domestic financial market. Declaring 2016 as the Year of Multiculturalism was not a careless attempt at forced harmony during trying times, but instead part of a larger and more conceptually cohesive strategy put forth by the government to lead the society of Azerbaijan through both the good and the bad. This is not their first foray into championing the idea of a multicultural society either, as Azerbaijan set up the Baku International Multiculturalism Center in 2014.
To the citizens of Azerbaijan, the land upon which they live and the distinct cultural stamps that saturate their lives mean more to them than the artless platitude of a “melting pot” mentality. In Azerbaijan, the commitment to multiculturalism transcends the simplicity and insincerity of mere lip service and is not a movement born out of political expedience. The citizens of the country live and experience multiculturalism in their everyday lives. Even the national cuisine offers a glimpse into the multicultural fabric of Azerbaijan. There are notable influences and specialty dishes regularly prepared in Azerbaijan that have their origins in Iran, Georgia, Turkey, and Russia, among other destinations. Kebabs are widely available, as is khachapuri and caviar, for example. Eschewing one single culture in order to favor and embrace diversity is central to Azerbaijan.
A simple stroll around Baku will reveal to even the most skeptical cynic a city born out of a masterfully merged and rich cultural tapestry. At various points during a downtown excursion of Baku alone, one can get a true feel for the history and the various cultures that have influenced life in Azerbaijan. A stop at an old war monument or a stop in a dated apartment building may invite a feeling of nostalgia over the 71 year Soviet tenure, while a statue of Heydar Aliyev will fill your spirit with Azerbaijani pride as both a fixture and monument of the country achieving post-Soviet success. There are parts of the city that reveal an advanced, 21st century ethos, from the business culture that permeates downtown Baku, to the Flame Towers that stand tall and proud, extending a chance for all to bask in the citywide ambiance of the impressive light displays that illuminate Baku in the night. It is important to remember that there are also parts of the city that are quite literally ancient, with an 8th century Mosque and a 12th century church featured, for example, further evidence of a decidedly multicultural identity. As numerous as the ultra-high fashion and luxury shops are in Azerbaijan, it seems as if one is always a taxi ride away from an authentic carpet boutique, with these little storefronts housing carpets forged from the trusted hands of those fervently dedicated to the timeless craft. A different stop along the same path through Azerbaijan will prompt a person to feel as if they are surrounded by Bohemian cachet.
As an obvious bedrock in the composition of the country, the call to make 2016 a year dedicated to the ideals that lie so close to the hearts of Azerbaijanis was not only appropriate, but also timely. By making this bold declaration to the nation during this period of struggle, President Aliyev is reassuring the people of Azerbaijan through the keystone ideal that forged their identity as a people. The President's strategy with this declaration is bold and decisive: he is encouraging the citizenry to build upon the pre-existing principles of tolerance and multicultural understanding, ensuring that the Land of the Fire marches on.
POWERFUL PERSPECTIVES
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
