Azerbaijani presidential rep: Zangilan to become "innovation hub"

Zangilan will become a regional centre fully fitting into the concept of the "smart city" and "green" economy projects, Azerbaijani presidential special representative in Zangilan has said.

"Zangilan will be a catalyzer of 'green' and smart solutions in Azerbaijan and the South Caucasus, in general. Zangilan will turn into an innovation hub," Report quotes Hajiyev as telling the first National Urban Forum in Azerbaijan.

He recalled that an international airport will soon be inaugurated in Zangilan, adding that modern infrastructure is being created.

"There is a plan to develop tourism," he said.

"Zangilan, like many other cities, was fully destroyed during the [Armenian] occupation. Unfortunately, not only the city itself but nature was terminated, all resources were used in a barbaric way," he said.

He added that mine threat is the main obstacle to the return of former IDPs to their homes.

"Dozens, hundreds of mines are found every day during the demining works in the liberated territories of Azerbaijan," he said.

According to Hajiyev, the main goal is to create the necessary infrastructure for the comfortable and safe living of people there. He added that it is important to preserve and restore the district's biodiversity.