Caspian Energy (CE): Could you, please, tell about the activity of your company in the Caspian-Black Sea construction market? 

Rahim Sultanov, Chairman of Board, Caspian Service LLC: Caspian Service is the investment construction company, which has been operating in the market since 2001. At first the company was involved in construction of residential buildings in Baku. In a twelve-year period of operation the company constructed more than 500,000 square meters and today sets up the objective to design and construct approximately the same amount of areas, including residential and office buildings, trade centers, sports complexes and medical institutions. 

We have been the first private Azerbaijani company to enter the international market of construction services and start constructing beyond Azerbaijan. 

In 2003 we registered our daughter company in Astana, the new capital of Kazakhstan. With special pride I would like to say that we together with large international construction companies took part in the construction of the new capital. So, in the central part of the city we have already constructed and commissioned the housing estate ‘Caspian Palace’ and the adjoining restaurant complex. The total area of the housing estate and the restaurant complex comprises 90,000 square meters. The housing estate includes 255 apartments, underground parking, sports and children’s playgrounds, the first floors have been intended for commercial structures. Another project of a housing estate with a total area of 45,000 square meters is in the process of coordination with the city administration.

Besides, in 2007 we constructed and put in operation a municipal building with a total area of more than 20,000 square meters in the city of Aktau. In the central part of Aktau city we are constructing a multipurpose housing estate ‘Xazar Palace’ with a total area of 35,000 square meters to be commissioned already this year.

Our long-term plans are related with the construction market of Kazakhstan. So, we have developed the project of two 16-storeyed blocks of flats to be constructed in the city of Karaganda.  This project is now at the stage of coordination. 

It is worth special mentioning that last year we won the tender for design of a complex of buildings under the Embassy of the Republic of Kazakhstan in Baku. By now the project had passed through all coordination procedures in the appropriate authorities, both in Kazakhstan and in Azerbaijan. 

You might know that there are plans to host EXPO-2017 Exhibition in Astana. This is a large-scale project even for such a large country as Kazakhstan. We have made a decision to take part in this grandiose construction.

CE: What can the Company offer within the frames of preparation for EXPO-2017? 

Rahim Sultanov: The state committee for organisation of EXPO-2017 has been already created in Astana. Our architects are going to visit Astana soon to offer our services on design of exhibition facilities. And we will try to offer multipurpose facilities possible to use for other events besides EXPO-2017.

CE: What is your contribution to the development of the construction market in Azerbaijan? 

Rahim Sultanov: Besides constructing in the capital, we are also involved in projects in the regions. We have constructed the housing estate ‘Xan Evi’ in Ganja, the Chinarli residential building in the Goychay region, the Center of Mugam in the Agjabadi region, etc. In the process of each project development our architects gave due consideration to the features of the regions and the existing architecture of buildings there. For example, red brick was traditionally used in construction in the ancient city of Ganja and that is the reason why we used it in design of our house. 

But our special focus is on Baku since as you know Baku is one of the most beautiful cities of the world. 

The first oil boom of the late XIX century - early XX century gave an impetus to the development of construction. At that time the downtown featured architectural masterpieces. Both Azerbaijan architects and architects from the largest capitals of Europe worked there. Our company revived the architectural decor and continues to recreate the lost architectural style, staying committed to developing the accumulated traditions of the Baku architecture. The use of Baku stone ‘Gulbakh’ in finishing has made the buildings of Caspian Service recognizable; it is some kind of a symbol of our company’s style. The combination of traditions and the modern style turned to be demanded and popular, received the name ‘Baku architecture’ and became a visiting card of the company that created this brand.

CE: How would you assess the results of the last year for the Company? 

Rahim Sultanov: The global crisis, which emerged in 2008, has also affected the construction sector of Azerbaijan. However, the 2012 year was relatively positive for us compared to the previous years. The end of 2012 year was marked by one more joyful event for our company. We won the tender for design at a complex of buildings under the Embassy of Ukraine in Azerbaijan. We have already developed a schematic design of the Embassy consisting of an office building, cultural center and a residential building for employees. The project has been submitted to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine for approval. 

CE: Which concrete projects are now implemented by the Company in Azerbaijan? 

Rahim Sultanov: We continue construction of residential and administrative buildings in Baku as well as across the regions. This May our company plans to accomplish the project of an administrative building of the Executive Power of the Bilasuvar regional center, Heydar Aliyev Centre, Heydar Aliyev Park and the Azerbaijan National Conservatoire. 

CE: What other foreign markets besides Kazakhstan is the company working in? 

Rahim Sultanov: In August this year we plan to accomplish construction of a two-block nine-storeyed residential building in the regional center of Stavropol, the Russian Federation. The building currently undergoes facing works. 

Also, we plan to launch construction of a three-storeyed clubhouse near the city park and mineral springs in well-known for the Azerbaijanis Essentuki resort town.

CE: Which projects starting from 2001 would you assess as a visiting card of the Company? 

Rahim Sultanov: We value each building we constructed, but among them I would like to especially figure out several interesting projects: our first building on the Bul-Bul Avenue near the Nizami movie theater, the buildings around the location of the Executive Power on the B. Sardarov Street and, certainly, the residential building near Nizami subway station down the Z.Akhmadbayov Street 10 where our office is also located.

Practically all buildings have a classical design and are the fruits of creativity of our team of architects led by the Deserved Architect of Azerbaijan Faiq Yuzbashev.

CE: Which innovations does the company apply while constructing buildings? 

Rahim Sultanov: Caspian Service is a dynamically developing company established for new creative ideas. The staff regularly works on improvement of the construction quality. Using new materials, very expensive products in certain cases, plays an important role in present development of the construction sphere of Baku. 

We have recently completed the facing work at residential buildings located on Azi Aslanov Street 103. Travertine brought from Italy was used during facing the building. It is the same product that was used for building a world known Coliseum in Rome in the first century. We currently carry out the facing work by using travertine on the building located at B.Sardarov Street. In this project we apply combination of Gulbakh stone and the Italian travertine that certainly highlights harmony of the whole complex. 

CE: What do you believe the mission of Caspian Service is? 

Rahim Sultanov: In different years we received many awards in various countries. Our company was awarded prizes for using advanced construction technologies, for contribution to town-planning, for active work in maintenance of historical-cultural heritage as well as for contributing national color to town planning in Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Russia and Great Britain. 

Following the outcomes of the past year we were awarded Azeri Business Award-2012 prize in the nomination for “Innovative architectural solutions within the framework of international projects” as well as for  developing the project on Kazakhstan’s embassy in Baku. 

When participating in foreign projects we leave certain islands of “Baku architecture and Azerbaijani culture” behind us. Meanwhile, our company contributes to development of trade, economic and cultural relations of Azerbaijan with other countries. 

The Caspian Service staff was very glad to hear about winning of Caspian Energy Integration Award-2013 prize for “contribution to the development of Azerbaijani-Kazakhstan relations”. 

The main goal that we pursue when implementing our projects is to provide comfortable and warm conditions for people.