The Decree of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan dated September 2, 2026, “On Amendments to the State Programme for the Socio-Economic Development of the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic for 2023–2027,” approved by Decree No. 3910 of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan dated June 5, 2023, is of particular importance in terms of aligning the socio-economic development priorities of the autonomous republic with current challenges and improving the implementation mechanisms of the measures envisaged.

Elshan Yusifli, Head of the Monitoring of Sectoral Programs Sector of the Monitoring and Evaluation Department at the Center for Analysis of Economic Reforms and Communication, stated that the amendments to the State Programme are aimed at ensuring a more results-oriented implementation of measures to expand economic activity and export opportunities, improve transport accessibility, broaden access to education and social services, and strengthen environmental sustainability.

As a result of the aforementioned amendments, approaches to supporting entrepreneurship and exports under the State Programme have also been further clarified. One of the key priorities has been identified as accelerating the access of products manufactured in the region to domestic and foreign markets by leveraging the advantageous geographical location of the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic. To increase the competitiveness of local products and optimize transportation costs, the introduction of targeted logistics support mechanisms for entrepreneurs is envisaged. The Head of the Sector at CAERC noted that organizing regular freight transportation and increasing the efficiency of transport routes will create additional opportunities for expanding exports, employment and business relations.

According to Elshan Yusifli, particularly following the opening of the Zangezur Corridor, the opportunities for exporting products manufactured in Nakhchivan by land are expected to expand significantly. Under the amendments to the State Programme, the provision for considering the application of various incentives based on a separate assessment, with the aim of encouraging the efficient utilization of these opportunities, is important for establishing flexible and economically justified support mechanisms. This approach will contribute to strengthening the role of local production in the economy and realizing Nakhchivan’s regional trade and logistics potential.

Within the framework of the amendments to the State Programme, key expected outcomes include increasing public access to transport infrastructure and services, expanding the coverage of educational institutions, strengthening access to social services for socially vulnerable population groups, and improving conditions for physical activity among the population. At the same time, the expansion of greening and afforestation measures will contribute to enhancing environmental sustainability and improving the living environment in Nakhchivan.

Elshan Yusifli recalled that President Ilham Aliyev’s visit to the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic on August 11, 2026, was also important in terms of assessing the practical implementation of the identified priorities for the region’s socio-economic development and clarifying development directions for the upcoming period. During the visit, presentations of ongoing and planned projects in industry, energy, transport and logistics, social infrastructure, urban planning and other areas, as well as discussions of the region’s future development prospects, further highlighted the relevance of aligning individual measures of the State Programme with existing challenges and new development opportunities. In this regard, the latest amendments to the State Programme can be considered a continuation of efforts to optimize the priorities and implementation mechanisms of the large-scale development policy being carried out in Nakhchivan.

It should be noted that, pursuant to Part 4 of Decree No. 3910 of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan dated June 5, 2023, “On Approval of the State Programme for the Socio-Economic Development of the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic for 2023–2027,” the monitoring and evaluation of the implementation of the measures envisaged under the State Programme is carried out by the Center for Analysis of Economic Reforms and Communication.

Source:https://president.az/