Caspian Energy (CE): Mr. Safarov, what contribution, in your opinion, has Azersun Holding made to the development of the Azerbaijan food market?
Afig Safarov, Head of Department of Public Relations and Business Development Support, Azersun Holding: As you know, being the age-mate of independence of the Republic of Azerbaijan Azersun Holding, since the first days of its operation in Azerbaijan, has stayed committed to ensuring food security of the country by creating various manufacturing enterprises. To ensure food supply domestically is a strategic issue for the young state, which has just gained its independence, is located in the difficult geopolitical region and stays involved in the military conflict with the neighboring state. It, certainly, was our main mission. The quality of manufactured products has always been of a top priority for Azersun Holding. Since the middle of the 90s, when the holding privatized, reorganized and put in operation the first manufacturing enterprises of independent Azerbaijan being guided by the international quality standards of ISO, Global GAP, HACCP, Azersun Holding has been putting into operation more and more new enterprises almost every year, making in this way a feasible contribution to the development of the non-oil sector of the Azerbaijan economy. In 2004 the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev approved the first State Programme of Social and Economic Development of Regions of the Republic of Azerbaijan and in 2009 the second one, which gave a strong push to the development of the country regions. Within the frame of these programs Azersun Holding put into commissioning over ten manufacturing enterprises and agricultural plants in various regions of the country.
CE: Which projects implemented during the entire period of operation, you would mention as the most successful ones?
Afig Safarov: The important aspect to be noted, is our company’s integrated approach to the entire manufacturing cycle, starting from cultivation of agricultural products, their processing at the plant located directly in the territory of our agricultural complex, manufacture of packages and containers for them, etc., and ending with delivery of these products to consumers. The entire manufacturing and even post-manufacturing cycle is covered by the different enterprises of our holding. At each stage we apply the high quality standard, which is a philosophy of our company. It probably guarantees success of all our undertakings. We have always stayed committed to being pioneers and, let us say, the driving force of economy. Almost all our enterprises are strategically important for the national economy. At the same time they are social projects aimed at creating new jobs in the country regions, increasing welfare of population and, most important, providing people with high-quality products of local manufacture. For example, for a long time the iodine deficiency problem owing to the use of non-iodized salt has been causing big problems for health of our people. The commissioning of Masazyr salt plant has almost completely solved this problem.
Certainly, we associate our success mainly with our employees. Our company is heavily investing in the development of human resources. The goal set up by our Head of State to transform the oil capital into the human capital has been one of the main priorities of our activity.
Azersun Academy has been established under the group of companies to regularly organise different trainings and training programs covering the whole many thousands staff of the holding. With special pride I would like to note that nowadays Azersun Holding’s hail can be met practically in all sectors of the Azerbaijani economy, both in private and public administration.
CE: Could you, please, comment on achievements of the previous year and share your plans for 2013 and the years to come?
Afig Safarov: The last 2012 year could be marked by the commissioning of several more new enterprises. We started up the Gazakh cannery in April and the modern hothouse, Green Tech, in the Bina settlement of Baku in July with participation of President Ilham Aliyev. In addition, the Kurdamir dairy combine, Imishli firm lump sugar manufacturing plant came on stream in a test mode. Operations are underway at the Sumgayit cardboard and paper manufacturing plant where waste paper is used as raw materials. As you see, each our business project bears at the same time a social mission. Once commissioned, the Sumgayit plant would provide the country and the region with cardboard and paper products manufactured from secondary raw materials, thereby making contribution to preservation of our woods.
The 2012 year was also marked by the rapid development of retail trade. In 2012 the network of Bazarstore supermarkets, which had entered the Azersun family in 2011, opened 3 new modern supermarkets. In 2013 this process will continue by opening a new store in Sumgayit. We can say, there are lots of plans to deal with.
