Poverty rate making up 16% in Azerbaijan

“45% of the population lived in poverty in 2003, while now the rate is 16%. 145,000 new jobs, including 105,000 permanent ones, were created in Azerbaijan in 2007,” Finance Minister Samir Sharifov.

He added that 642,000 jobs had been created since October, 2003 till the end of 2007.

According to him, per capita monetary incomes rose 38% to AZN 1,670, average monthly salary increased 42% to AZN 214 and average pension grew 44$ to AZN 59.

He said AZN 154 million was spent in 2007 on resettlement of internally displaced persons in newly-established cities.

/APA/