Today, we would like to talk about a miraculous country of Azerbaijan with its unlimited natural resources, centuries-old culture, history and ancient people, whose lifestyle presents a unique and harmonious combination of the traditions and ceremonies of different cultures and civilizations.
Azerbaijan is a geographical name. On the one hand this name is linked with the population, which lived in this region for thousands of years before our era, and who were mostly fire-worshippers. Local population considered that fire was their God and so they worshipped the fire. “Azer” means fire. The Turkic name “Azer” was used for this territory for a long time. The word “Azer” consists of two parts – “az” and “er”. In Turkic languages, “az” means a good intention and a fate of success. Thus, the word “Azer” means “a brave man”, “a brave boy”, “the fire keeper”. The word “Azerbaijan” originates from the name of an ancient Turkish tribe, who resided in those territories.
Azerbaijan is one of the most ancient sites of humankind. The humankind was present here at every stage of their historical development. There were living settlements in Azerbaijan even at the earliest stages of humankind. Azerbaijan made its own contribution into the establishment of the current culture and civilization, progress and dialectics.
The time kept a range of ancient archaeological and architectural monuments for us. The ancient headstones, manuscripts and models of carpets, preserved to the present times from the ancient ages, can provide much information to those who can and want to read them. If you wish to understand Azerbaijan and to know everything about it, you need to look at this country and its people with a friend’s eyes. Azerbaijan is a fertile, generous and friendly land.
Through the decades, the local industry was successfully represented by oil producing, petrochemical and oil processing enterprises. The agricultural industry is famous for cotton-growing, viticulture, vegetable-growing and cattle-breeding.
If one compares the economy of Azerbaijan with a living body, it becomes evident that oil flows in the veins of Azerbaijan. The oil and gas resources of Azerbaijan have made this place famous in every part of the world from the ancient times.
Azerbaijan is currently involved into the implementation of huge energy projects. oil and gas projects are successfully implemented in the Azeri Caspian sector. Azerbaijan is a country, which plays an extremely important role in the Caspian and Caucasian regions, particularly in the development of transport infrastructure in the Caucasus and the implementation of energy projects. It was the region’s first country to explore the huge energy potential, to form an absolutely new economic model in the regional development, and to expand political and economic relations between Europe and Asia.
In December 2016, President Ilham Aliyev approved a Strategic Road Map on national economy that identified 11 key sectors of economy for development. The ongoing diversification efforts of the country offers opportunities to companies from the Netherlands in various sectors, such as agriculture and horticulture, transport and logistics, renewable energy, water management and others.
Holidays of the Republic of Azerbaijan
• 1-2 January – New Year holiday
• 8 March – International Women’s Day
• 9 May – Day of Victory over fascism
• 28 May – Independence Day
• 15 June – National Salvation Day of the Azerbaijani people
• 26 June – Day of Armed Forces of the Republic of Azerbaijan
• 18 October – Day of Restoration of Independence
• 8 November – Victory Day
• 9 November – National Flag Day of the Republic of Azerbaijan
• 12 November – Constitution Day
• 17 November – National Revival Day
• 31 December – World Azerbaijanis Solidarity Day
• Novruz holiday – five days
• Eid al-Adha – two days
• Eid al-Fitr – two days