President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, who said "Our objective is not only to produce, transport oil and get incomes. We aim to direct all oil revenues, also political, economic and other benefits to the future interests, prosperity of the Azerbaijani people.”, has from the very first days of our independence been actively involved in the preparation and successful realization of the new oil strategy. The numerous meetings and negotiations he attended were held under this slogan.

As the first international oil contract reflecting economic sovereignty of Azerbaijan, “Contract of Century”, the bright manifestation of the implementation of the oil strategy, which is the basis to the economic development concept of independent Azerbaijan, laid a foundation for dynamic development of the country’s economy and played important role in the development of regional relations.

Involving foreign states in the implementation of Caspian oil-gas projects on the basis of President Ilham Aliyev’s strategy, Azerbaijan managed to get their support. 

These projects fundamentally changed the attitude of the world’s leading states, mostly interested in oil-gas resources of Caspian region and Azerbaijan, and leading public organizations to our country and to the armed conflict it has been involved by force. 

Such transnational projects as Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan main export pipeline, author of which is national leader Heydar Aliyev, Baku-Tbilisi-Erzurum South Caucasus gas pipeline, to transport Azerbaijani gas to Europe, Trans-Anatolia gas pipeline – TANAP, Trans-Adriatic gas pipeline – TAP, Nabucco West gas pipeline, to deliver natural gas resources of Caspian region and Middle East to European markets, have changed Azerbaijan into an integral part of the globe.

Bringing multibillion investments to Azerbaijan, this action of President Ilham Aliyev reinforces positions of the country in the international community, changes it into a major centre of force in South Caucasus. No project of international significance is implemented in the region without participation of Azerbaijan.

The action of President Ilham Aliyev in transnational projects accomplished so far was much appreciated and he was awarded the title of “Caspian Statesman of the Year” in the Caspian Forum on December 5 in Istanbul.

It all are important manifestations of the hard work the President of Azerbaijan performs to introduce Azerbaijan as a reliable partner.