President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has reviewed a tea processing factory of Astarachay LLC. President Ilham Aliyev was informed that Astarachay farm was created in 2010. The farm occupies a total area of 640 hectares. Tea plantations cover an area of nearly 400 hectares. The factory uses “Kolkhida” tea seeds which are delivered from the Georgian city of Batumi. The seeds are adapted to local conditions.
The tea factory was built on the basis of a layout made by a South Korean company. The facility, which occupies a total area of 4.5 hectares, has state-of-the-art weighing and folding equipment. The factory will produce 100gr, 200gr and 400gr tea boxes. It has a capacity of manufacturing 8 tea boxes per minute. There is also a tea museum, a tasting room and a tea house for tourists.
After reviewing the tea factory President Ilham Aliyev met with local residents.
Greeting members of the staff and representatives of the district public, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev said:
- I am very glad to be in Astara again. I am glad that such a great enterprise has been created in Azerbaijan. The factory is almost fully prepared and will start to operate soon. This will contribute to the restoration of tea growing in Astara. Tea growing in Astara has very ancient and beautiful traditions. In Soviet times, large tea plantations were established here. Regrettably, the industry subsequently experienced a slight decline. We had to import tea from abroad. But today, once such wonderful enterprises are established, I am sure that Azerbaijan will soon provide itself with quality local tea.
All the equipment is modern. Foreign experts have been very active in this. Their support is also very important. More than a thousand people will be provided with jobs at the factory and tea plantations. Thus, we pursue several goals. First of all, there is local production, a traditional branch of agriculture, tea growing, is being restored. At the same time, it will give an impetus to the development of agriculture. This is an industrial enterprise. It is a combination of agriculture and industry. This year has been declared a "Year of Agriculture" in Azerbaijan, while last year was a "Year of Industry". Our policy is reflected in this tea factory.
Investments have been made. Entrepreneurs are asserting themselves. The state also provides assistance to businesses. At the same time, entrepreneurs try to serve their homeland, so that they could get a profit and benefit the state.
A lot has been done in recent years within the framework of regional development. The main goal is to create local production and jobs and strengthen our export potential. I am sure that there will come a time when Azerbaijan will supply its tea to world markets in large quantities, because there are all the opportunities for that. State policy is pursued and our financial situation is quite good. The results of the first quarter of the year are also very positive. Azerbaijan's economy is developing fast. In the future, we will develop further at the expense of agriculture, industry and the non-oil sector.
I am very pleased that as a result of the work done in recent years, major infrastructure projects have been implemented in the southern region. For more than 10 years now, a power plant has been in operation in Astara. Gasification is well under way. Gasification of Astara District is at the level of 75 per cent. Now, a project of drinking water is being executed. I do hope that by the end of next year Astara will be provided with clean drinking water. Roads are built, the main road Baku-Astara is being constructed. We have divided this project into stages. The focus, of course, is also on the creation of jobs locally.
Such an integrated approach allows the Azerbaijani economy to be less dependent on oil factor and ensure sustainable development. However, excellent landscaping work is under way in Astara, a boulevard has been created, and I welcome that. This is a great initiative for people’s comfort and recreation. As you know, boulevards are being established in various parts of Azerbaijan now. We used to have only one boulevard – in Baku. Its length was approximately 3.5 kilometers. After a month, new opening ceremonies will be held in Baku. We are expanding the boulevard. The length of the Baku boulevard will reach 16 kilometers. Boulevards are being created in other cities along rivers and on waterfront. I welcome this. This is about beauty and modernity. It is a perfect gift for people’s comfortable life.
Improvement, creation and the social infrastructure! I remember attending the opening of a hospital last time I was in Astara. Schools and rural roads are built. Rural roads linking most villages of Astara Districts are under construction, and one of them will be opened today. We will build other rural roads too, so that there is not a single unrepaired rural road left in Azerbaijan. This is our goal. In recent years we have allocated sufficient funds to this area. Roads are built because there is no development without the roads. At the same time, when there is a road, people feel more comfortable. Roads are a social and economic project. Infrastructure projects were a priority in the first phase of our work, because development is impossible without them. If we hadn’t built power plants, it would be impossible to create such an enterprise today, because energy generation, gas lines, infrastructure and roads lead to the development of any country. This was followed by the process of public investment, lending, business development and creation of such beautiful plants.
As I said, more than a thousand people will be provided with jobs here. This is a great step towards eliminating unemployment. In addition, it was mostly women who worked on tea plantations in Azerbaijan. It is very important for both parents in the family to be provided with jobs. Work on tea plantations is a traditional occupation for women in Azerbaijan. I believe that in the present conditions it is very important for any person to have a job, of course. This is a great enterprise. I am sure that people working here will be treated with care, their wages, food and working conditions will be good. I am sure that the factory will expand its activities in the future, because there are ample opportunities for agriculture and tea growing in Lankaran, Astara and other places. You are also rice growers. It is also very important. It is a traditional agricultural sphere in this region. This is how our country will develop, including Astara.
Astara is a beautiful district and a great place of Azerbaijan with picturesque nature, good climate and wonderful people. I am very glad that landscaping work is being done here. At the same time, great enterprises are being set up. This is my seventh trip to Astara in recent years, which in itself shows how much attention is being paid to Astara. I will continue to monitor the work under way here.
I congratulate you on this wonderful event again.
XXX
Then a picture was taken.
