President Ilham Aliyev inaugurates “Azermirror” plant in Sumgayit Industrial Park Photo

President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev attended the official opening of the new mirror sheet production facility of “Azermirror” LLC in the Sumgayit Industrial Park on January 27. 

Minister of Economy Mikayil Jabbarov briefed the President on the progress of industrial zones across the country, noting that 104 enterprises in Azerbaijan’s industrial zones are now operational. According to government figures, these zones have attracted over 7 billion manat ($4.1 billion) in investments and generated more than 11,000 permanent jobs, Caliber.Az reports per state media. 

Ongoing projects are expected to secure an additional nearly 1.74 billion manat ($1.02 billion) in future investments. To date, industrial zones have produced goods worth 19.4 billion manat ($11.4 billion), with exports accounting for 6.1 billion manat ($3.5 billion). Products manufactured in these zones are exported to around 70 countries worldwide.

The expansion of industrial parks and districts reflects Azerbaijan’s broader industrialization strategy aimed at diversifying the economy away from hydrocarbons, accelerating growth in the non-oil sector, and enhancing innovation, competitiveness, and employment opportunities. 

Currently, Azerbaijan operates eight industrial parks — including Sumgayit, Garadagh, Pirallahi, Mingachevir, Balakhani, Hajigabul, Aghdam, and the Araz Valley Economic Zone in Jabrayil. New projects such as the Nakhchivan Industrial Park and a Western Industrial Park in Ganja and Shamkir are underway. Additionally, industrial districts in Masalli, Neftchala, Sabirabad, and Sharur contribute to local production and entrepreneurial activity. 

The Sumgayit Industrial Park, covering 640 hectares, now hosts 40 resident enterprises with project values totaling 6.7 billion manat ($3.9 billion). So far, 5.5 billion manat ($3.2 billion) has been invested, creating nearly 8,800 jobs, of which 6,135 are already filled. Sales from resident companies have reached 15.4 billion manat ($9.06 billion), including 5.7 billion manat ($3.3 billion) in exports.

At the ceremony, Rustam Abbasov, founder of “Azermirror” LLC, briefed President Aliyev on the new enterprise, which received resident status in the industrial park in 2023. Built on a one-hectare site, the plant will employ 30 workers and has an annual capacity of 900,000 square meters of mirror sheets. 

Alongside serving local demand, the company plans to export products internationally. The project, utilising Chinese technology, involved an investment of 6.13 million manat ($3.6 million). A 1.5 million manat ($882,000) preferential loan from the Azerbaijan Business Development Fund supported the venture, and tax and customs incentives of 600,000 manat ($353,000) were granted under industrial park residency programmes.