Area
Official name
Population
FACT SHEET - AZERBAIJAN
Azerbaijan
Republic of Azerbaijan
86,600 km
2
9.59 million [ as on January 2015]
Population growth rate: 1.2 %
Main languages Azerbaijani
Definition: age 15 and over can read and write
Literacy total population: 99.8% male: 99.9% female: 99.7% (2010 Census)
Capital Baku (Population 2.18 Million)
Baku, Ganja, Sumgait Main Cities
Average Life
Expectancy
Administrative &
Territorial
Divisions
Total 74.2 years: Male: 71.6 years & Female: 76.8 years [ 2014 ]
70
Religion
National Day
Establishment of diplomatic relations
Shia Muslim: 70%, Sunni Muslim: 23%, Russian Orthodox: 2.5%, Armenian
Orthodox: 2.3%,others: 1.8%
28th May [Republic Day]; 18 October [Independence Day]
28 February, 1992
Major ports
Baku International Marine Trade Port, Ports and Harbors: Baku, Lenkoran,
Dubandi.
Climate
Temperature
Subtropical
The average annual temperature is 14–15 °C (57–59 °F) in the Kur-Araz Lowland , the coastal regions south to the Apsheron Peninsula , and in the Lenkoran
Lowland . The temperature declines with proximity to the mountains, averaging 4–
5 °C (39–41 °F) at an altitude of 2,000 meters (6,600 ft), and 1–2 °C (34–36 °F) at
3,000 meters (9,800 ft).
Type of
Government
Presidential democracy with a directly elected President, who has a five year term.
The Government is headed by a Prime Minister who has a Council of Ministers.
The Prime Minister and the Council of Ministers are appointed by the President.
H.E. Mr Ilham Aliyev, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan
Head of State www.prezident.az
Prime Minister H.E. Mr Artur Raisizadeh
Chairman of
National H.E. Mr. Ogtay Asadov
Assembly
Speaker H.E. Mr Ogtay Asadov
Foreign Minister H.E. Mr Elmar Mammadyarov ; www.mfa.gov.az
Finance Minister H.E. Mr Samir Sharifov
Defence Minister H.E. Zakir Hasanov
Economy and
IndustryMinister
H.E. Mr. Shahin Mustafayev; www.economy.gov.az

Energy Minister H.E. Mr. Natig Aliyev
Ecology and
Natural
H.E. Huseyngulu Baghirov, Co-Chairman of the India-Azerbaijan Inter-
Governmental Commission on Trade, Economic and Technological Cooperation.
Resources
Indian Co-Chairman is the Minister of State for Commerce
Minister
Main Political
Parties
Yeni Azerbaijan [President Aliyev`s party]; Azerbaijani Popular Front; National
Independence Party; Musavat Party.
Legislature Unicameral 125 member Milli Mejlis [National Assembly]
October, 2013 [Presidential]; November 2010 [National Assembly] Last elections
Next elections due
October, 2018 [Presidential], November, 2015 [National Assembly.]
National
Holidays
New Year’s Day, Martyrs’ Day, International Women’s Day, Novruz holiday,
Victory Day, Republic Day, National Salvation Day, Azerbaijan Armed Forces
Day, Flag Day, International Solidarity Day, Ramadan holiday, Sacrifice Feast.
Member of regional/ multilateral institutions & organizations
Constitution
UN, World Bank, IMF, WHO, IOC, World Tourism Organization, WCO, ICJ;
OIC, PACE, OSCE, GUAM-ODED, TRACECA, etc.
GDP
GDP growth rate
The Constitution of Azerbaijan was adopted on 12 November 1995 by popular referendum and amended on 24 August 2002. It carries the "highest legal force" in
Azerbaijan as per article 147
AZN 58.98 billion /US $ 75.61 billion [ 2014]
2.8 % [2014]
Total Foreign
Investment
AZN 4.88 billion / US$ 6.23 billion (2014)
UK, Norway, Japan Turkey, France.
Main investors
Foreign trade US$ 31.016 billion (2014)
Italy Germany, Indonesia, Russian, Israel, Turkey, France, USA, Great­Britain
Trade partners and Thailand.
Unemployment rate
5%
Poverty rate 5%
Currency/
Monetary Unit
AZN (Manat)
Exchange Rate US$ 1.00 = 1.05 MANATS [end February 2015]
Forex reserves US $ 54 billion (2014)
Debt
Total Imports
Foreign debt : US$ 6.478 Billion [2014]
US$ 9.187 billion [2014]

Total Exports US$ 21.828 billion [2014]
US$ 37 million [2014]
Imports from
India
Mainly cars, components of hot roll machinary or mechanical appliances, meat, drugs, human vaccine, black tea, parts of airconditioners, Polyethylene terephthalate, other food stuff, Drilling pipes from ferrous metals, cards and intellectual cards, rice, Tobacco leaf, Metal constructions from ferrous metals,Tooth Brushes, Quartizite, Static converters, etc.
Exports to India
( Source: State Statistical Committee of Azerbaijan )
US$ 778 million [2014 ]
Mainly crude oil , oil coke, Iodine,Cattle skins, other unwrought lead, jet fuel, and components of earth-moving and tunneling machines
Bilateral trade
Principal Exports
(Source: State Statistical Committee of Azerbaijan)
Total trade turnover US $ 815 million [ 2014]
Mineral products [oil, gas etc.]; lubricants; chemicals; fermented tobacco; cotton yarn & fibre; machinery; electro-technical domestic appliances; and machines.
[all countries]
Principal
Imports
Electro-technical domestic appliances and machines; vegetable products; food products; misc. articles made of base metal; motor-vehicles; ferrous & non-ferrous metals; pharmaceuticals & consumer goods; chemicals; and cigarettes
[all countries]
Inflation
VAT
1.4 % [2014]
18%
Railways/
Highways
Indian
Community
2,932 kms and 59,141 kms, respectively.
National Bank of Azerbaijan
Chairman: Mr. Elman RUSTAMOV
Central Bank
R.Behbudov Str, 32, AZ-1014 Baku,
Tel: 493 11 22, 493 55 41, Website: www.nba.az
Petroleum and Natural gas, petroleum products, oilfield equipment; steel, iron ore;
Industries
Agriculture
Natural cement; chemicals and petrochemicals; textiles
Cash Crops , grapes , cotton , tobacco , citrus fruits , and vegetables .
Petroleum, natural gas, iron ore, nonferrous metals, bauxite
Resources
Indian Association Azerbaijan ( IAA ) was formed on 5th October 2003. The
Indian community in Azerbaijan of about 800 persons, organized as the India
Azerbaijan Association, organizes outreach activities with the local community
Major
Universities through social/cultural celebration events with music, dance and Holi, Diwali and
Indian food festival, usually held in conjunction with major India festivals.
Baku State University. Azerbaijan State Economic University, Azerbaijan State
University of Language, Baku Music Academy, Azerbaijan State Technical
Location
University, Azerbaijan Oil Academy.
Azerbaijan is in the South Caucasus region of Eurasia , straddling Western Asia and Eastern Europe . It lies between latitudes
38°
and
42° N
, and longitudes
44°

Scientific
Institutions
Major Tourist attractions
Major Media
Organizations
Embassy of and
51° E
.
Azerbaijan State University of Languages, Baku
State Medical University, Baku,
State Economic University, Baku
Azerbaijan State Academy of Sciences, Baku
Khazar University, Baku [Private]
Baku State University, Baku
Baku is on the Caspian Sea coast. It has a relatively modern international airport & provides direct air flights to many cities of the world. Significantly Baku also has splendid sandy beaches and gentle sloping sea bottom which attracts tourists.
Places of tourist attractions are:
- Palace of Shirvanshahs and the Maiden’s Tower in Baku;
- Ateshgah Fire Temple monument close to Baku City
- a unique monument of Azerbaijani art of the Mesolithic
Period [circa VIII-VII BC] in the form of rock drawings at
Gobustan;
- Talish mountains, Palace of Sheki Khans at Sheki,
mountainous regions of Zagatala, Oguz, Guba;
- Gizilagach National Park and the mineral springs in Nakhchivan
Newspapers
KHALG GAZETI [State owned]-Editor-in-Chief: Mr.Hasan
HASANOVMUSAVAT-Editor-in-Chief: Mr.Rauf ARIFOGLU
ZERKALO, Editor-in-Chief : Mr. Elchin SHYKHLINSKI
News Agencies
Today.Az( http://www.today.az/ )
APA( http://en.apa.az/ )
Trend( http://news.trend.az/ )
AzerTag( http://www.azertag.com/index_en.html
)
Magazines:
EL-Editor-in-Chief: Mr. Nadir Badalov
AZERBAIJAN QADINI-Editor-in-Chief: Ms. Shafiqa MEHDIYEVA
TV Channels
AZ TV-1 & 2 [State owned]-Head: Mr. Arif ALISHANOV
ANS TV [Private]-Head: Mr. Vahid MUSTAFAYEV
Space TV [Private]-Head: Mr. Vaqif MUSTAFAYEV
ATV [Private]-Head: Mr. Tagi IBRAHIMOV
LIDER TV [Private]-Head: Mr. Vugar QARADAGLI
Public TV-Head: Mr. Ismayil OMAROV
Ambassador : Vacant

India, Baku Tel: +994 12 4472562
FOREIGN
EXCHANGE
REGULATIONS
Brief History
EXTERNAL
Mr. Norbu Negi, Cd’A and Head of Chancery
Tel: +994 12 4480394
All visitors are required to declare on arrival foreign currency being carried in person. A visitor is permitted to take foreign currency out of the country without payment of tax, of a sum NOT more than the amount declared on arrival.
Conversion from hard currency to local currency and vice versa is permissible at the numerous licensed exchange counters all around the country and also at all banks. The rates of exchange for buying and selling of all hard currency are fixed by the National Bank of Azerbaijan.
Azerbaijan was an independent state in ancient times but same under foreign domination in its more recent history. In 16th and 17th century, the Safavi dynasty of southern Azerbaijan came to the throne in |Persia and took over the Shirvan kingdom as well as Nakhichivan and Karabakh. Later in 16th and 17th centuries, the Ottomans and Russians fought for control of the area. In the 18th century,
Russian influence over the area increased and with the collapse of the Safavid empire in the 18th century, Russia and Iran competed for influence in the region.
Two wars later, in 1828, the treaty of Turkmanchay divided Azerbaijan between
Persia and Russia. The Soviet phase of Azeri history, which began on 28 April,
1920, lasted till October 18, 1991, when Azerbaijan declared its independence from erstwhile USSR on October 18, 1991. The new constitution of the Republic of Azerbaijan was adopted on November, 1995.
India recognized the independence of Azerbaijan in December 1991.
India established diplomatic relations with Azerbaijan on 28th of February 1992.
India opened its Embassy in Baku in March, 1999.
Azerbaijan opened Embassy in New Delhi in October, 2004.
Our countries celebrated the 20th Anniversary of the establishment diplomatic relations in 2012.
Bilateral
Relations with
India
Second Foreign Office Consultation held on 12th-17th of March, 2007 in New
Delhi. Deputy foreign Minister of Azerbaijan Mr. Khalaf Khalafov, headed by the delegation of Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Azerbaijan. Third round of Foreign Office Consultation held on 22nd -24th of September, 2011 in
Baku, Azerbaijan. Mr. Sanjay Singh, Secretary (East), MEA, headed the delegation of MEA.
The first meeting of India- Azerbaijan Inter- Governmental Joint Commission
(IGC) on Trade, Economic, Scientific and Technological Cooperation were held in
New Delhi on November 26, 2009, second on April 16, 2012 in Baku, Azerbaijan and the third meeting was held on 24-25 February 2014 in New Delhi.
A. Recent Bilateral Ministerial visits:
Visit from India:

(i) Shri Jyotiraditya M.Scindia, Minister of State for Commerce & industry visited Baku on April 16, 2012 for the second IGC meeting.
(ii ) Shri Ajay Makan, Minister of Youth Affairs on June 27-29, 2012
(iii) Shri Kapil Sibbal, Minister of Communication and IT on November 3-4,
2012.
(iv) A 9-member Parliamentary delegation, consisting of MPs from Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, visited Baku to attend the 10th Annual Conference of
Parliamentary Network on the World Bank and IMF (PNOW) on 24-25 May,
2013.
(v) A 20-member Parliamentary delegation visited Baku on 6-10 October 2013 as Observer during the Presidential elections in Azerbaijan at the invitation of
Association for Civil Society Development in Azerbaijan.
National Flag
Visa requirement for Diplomatic
Passport
Visa requirement for Official
Passport
Visa requirement for Ordinary
Passport
As on
Required
Visit to India:
(i) Mr. Natig Aliyev, Minister of Energy on 9-10 October 2012.
(ii) Mr. Fikrat Mammadov, Minister for Justice on April 3-6, 2013,
(iii) Mr. Samir Sharifov, Minister of Finance on May 2-4, 2013,
(iv) Mr. Elmar Mammadyarov, Minister of Foreign Affairs on May 5, 2013.
(v) Mr. Natig Aliyev, Minister of Energy on 12-15 January 2014 to attend the
11 th
International Oil & Gas Conference and exhibition ‘PETROTECH -
2014’ in New Delhi.
(vi) Mr. Huseyngulu Baghirov, Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources to participate in the 3 rd
session of IAIGC in New Delhi on 24-25 February
(vii)
2014.
Dr. Ganira Pashayeva, MP and member of India-Azerbaijan Inter-
Parliamentary Friendship Group on 20-26 September 2014 to attend 3 rd international Symposium of Turkic Art, History and Folklore in New
Delhi.
The flag of Azerbaijan is a horizontal tricolor of blue, red, and green, with a white crescent and an eight-pointed star centered on a red band.
Required
Required
February 2015.