President Aliyev opens new facilities in Mingachevir city

/By AzerNews/

By Nigar Orujova

Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev visited Mingachevir - the fourth largest city in Azerbaijan - to mark the opening of new facilities on February 24.

President Aliyev inspected a newly built residential complex which will house an estimated 594 internally displaced families in Mingachevir. The IDPs who until now were temporarily housed in nearby hostels will now be able to move to their new designated homes.

Deputy Prime Minister and Chairman of the State Committee on Refugees and IDPs, Ali Hasanov informed the head of state about the residential complex.

The settlement stretches across 12 hectares. So far, some 596 houses, a school, a 140-seat kindergarten, a medical point, a club-community center and a post office have been built.

The new school, which President Aliyev was most interested in visiting will cater for 480 children and has been supplied with modern equipment, in view of offering students a suitable educational environment.

Following his visit to the school, the president inspected the kindergarten and several houses to judge of the work accomplished.

Continuing on his visit, President Aliyev then went on to look at the newly rebuilt Mingachevir City Central Hospital.

Minister of Health, Ogtay Shiraliyev informed the president that the hospital which was originally built in 1987 underwent a comprehensive refurbishment.

The hospital consists of three main blocks. The 430-bed facility has a delivery room, surgical and therapeutics departments. All facilities at the hospital have been improved and updated to meet patients' care needs.

As part of his visit to Mingachevir, President Aliyev also went to the Friendship Park.

A modern lighting system and a fountain have been installed in the park alongside newly developed large green areas. The welcoming space aims to enhance visitors' leisure time and contribute to the positive dynamic of the neighborhood.

The park, which covers an area of 6 hectares, has ornamental trees and shrubs, a summer concert stage, kids’ playgrounds as well as various attractions and swings.

The president also attended the opening ceremony of a kindergarten, which construction was initiated and oversaw by the Heydar Aliyev Foundation.

The construction of the 120-seat kindergarten started in April, 2014. The two-storey kindergarten which has been fitted with all modern equipment was built to meet children's need -- training space, game rooms and a medical point --

Special attention will be paid to ensure that children can develop, learn and strive in a positive, safe and caring environment. The kindergarten also benefits from a green area.

The ongoing redevelopment work at the Heydar Aliyev Park in Mingachevir was also reviewed during this presidential visit.

The reconstruction of the park, which occupies a total area of 3 hectares, started last May. The park development looks to improve on all residents' lifestyle and well-being.

President Aliyev then went on to inspect ongoing work in the Heydar Aliyev Avenue, as well as in the “Mingachevir Industrial Park”. The 15 hectare-industrial park will be located in the area of the Mingachevir weaving factory. It will employ over 2,000 people and thus improve on the economic development of the city. The initial cost of the enterprises has been estimated at 100 million manats.

The head of state also viewed a project at the Kur Cultural Center. Officials confirmed that a bridge will be built over the Mingachevir section of the Kur River.

President Aliyev then reviewed construction progress at the Aghsaray hotel on the right bank of the Kur River in Mingachevir.

The hotel ground stretched over 2.5 hectares and consists of 5 blocks.

The building will welcome 55 guest rooms, as well as a restaurant, a cafe-bar, an entertainment center, a conference hall, swimming pools, a sauna, a fitness room, massage rooms and cottages. Once completed the hotel will employ an estimated 40 people.

At the end of the visit, the head of state visited the Kur Olympic Training and Sports Center.

The Kur Olympic Training and Sports Center, which was inaugurated by President Ilham Aliyev and his wife Mehriban Aliyeva several years ago, has been fitted with a unique rowing base, making it the only facility of its kind no only in the CIS but Europe.

Some competitions of the first European Games will be held at the center.