Page 12 - DIVA_No.24_2006

Azerbaijani talents. In 1991, most successful stories among Azerbaijan intends to develop
together with his wife, Galina the newly independent states non-oil sector in order to
Vishnevskaya, for many years in terms of political and eco- diversify economic produc-
the leading soprano at the nomic stability. Azerbaijan tion and enhance its competi-
Bolshoy Opera in Moscow, he considers integrative efforts to tiveness in international trade
established a charitable fund world economy as an and investment. However,
known as the Vishnevskaya- inevitable process, however, alongside with improving
Rostropovich Fund. Since cementing opportunities to investment climate, the
2002 this Fund has been facil- enhance its national competi- Government has set a goal to
itated a nationwide children's tiveness, along with ensuring maximize national assets for-
vaccination program to pro- the access to diverse products mation, so as to improve gen-
tect over 750,000 Azerbaijani and services for the society at eral socio-economic living
children against measles, large, is the core of the eco- conditions of people. Besides,
mumps, and rubella. nomic policy of the the Government pursues from IJNDP Resident
reforms,
Government. administrative
One of the nation's most cele- enhances efficiency of public Representative in BakuMarco
brated sons was Vagif Now, when the country has administration, and ensures Borsotti turning a "black
gold"into a "human gold".
Mustafazade (1940-1979), regained its independence and good governance to manage
creator of the 'mugham jazz" the sovereign right to exploit all of these challenges. The Government of
movement in Azerbaijan in its natural resources and build
the 1960s. By merging two its own economy, it seems Having studied the evolution Azerbaijan was, indeed,
musical genres- Western jazz ever more convincing that the of other nations rich in miner- among the first to embark on
and Eastern mugham, he cre- target is to expand entrepre- al resources, perhaps, one of delivering upon the Extractive
Transparency
ated a completely new sound neurial activities and promote the most crucial steps in Industries
that was uniquely Azerbaijani. the development of sectors on ensuring long-term sustain- Initiative, launched by the
Familiar Eastern melodies market-based approach and able socio-economic develop- British Government in pursuit
found new expression in with modern investment ment in the country was the of seeing how minerals-rich
Musatafazades free-spirited strategies for investors to find establishment of the State Oil countries can become more
piano stylings. His brilliant niches not only in traditional Fund, whose cause is to help transparent and more focused
jazz renditions are well- oil & gas sector, but also in the nation find specific and on delivering the revenues of
well
beyond
known most urgent of all uses of the mining activities to their
metals mining (ferrous and
Azerbaijan. His daughter non-ferrous minerals), chemi- accumulated oil revenues, so peoples. Joining this initiative
Aziza Mustafa Zadeh is cal and petrochemical, light as to invest into the future, was an important endeavor
the
by
today an accomplished jazz and food industries, agricul- into the younger generations- undertaken
piano player and singer of ture (cotton, tea, tobacco, silk that is, into what will make up Government in order to
international repute. worms, vine-growing, vegeta- the society well ahead of years ensure transparency in grow-
bles, fruits), and tourism. to come, the human capital of ing oil revenues collection
and spending, among other
Towards human gold Azerbaijan. It is many people things, to ensure the imple-
In simpler terms, addressing both in the public and in the
Today, Azerbaijan is on the development challenges in the private who concur in their mentation by the country of
United Nations Millennium
rise, exemplifying one of the context of globalization intentions about borrowing
Development Goals (MDGs).
Over the past two years, as
much as half billion USD, or
32 percent of the State Oil
Fund's income, was directed
to different investment and
social projects, the most
important of which was fund-
ing of housing and improve-
ment of socio-economic con-
ditions for refugees and inter-
nally displaced persons forced
to flee their native lands due
to ethnic cleansing as a result
of armed aggression against
Azerbaijan.

In addition to the Oil Fund,
the society draws substantial
support also from philan-
thropic activities of the
Heydar Aliyev Foundation
Official Opening of the BTC Pipeline (Baku-Thilisi-Ceyhan) with President of Azerba/an liham headed by Mrs. Mehriban
Aliyev, President of Georgia Mikhail Saakashvili and President of Turkey Ahmet Necdet Sezer Aliyeva, First Lady of