MODERN TECHNOLOGIES AND FORMATION OF HUMAN GOLD
Chapter 3
3.5. Conclusion
ICTs are currently used in the education system. One of the first applications was the admission exams created for students to higher and secondary schools. Currently, this work is being carried out by the State Students' Admission Commission (SSAC). The activity of SSAC ensures transparency and fairness of entrance examinations, offering equal access to education by organizing exams and assessing knowledge.
However, the degree of ICT application is insufficient. Because of the lack of national statistics, insufficient accuracy and of some foreign sources, additional studies should be carried out.
Oil extraction and refining are traditionally leading factors in the development of Azerbaijan's economy that have greatly influenced the formation of human gold. The most active period of oil extraction took place when the country was still part of the USSR. Despite all of the negatives, which are typical for administrative command economies, Azerbaijan gained notable success in the formation of significant human potential, influencing the HDIs.
The previous period of the exploitation of oilfields was marked by the development of a relatively diversified economy and industry, growth of cities, and the development of culture, arts and sciences. The country's greatest capital and wealth is its human potential, especially related to the high level of education and variety of professional skills. To varying extents, these achievements relate to oil, the extraction and refining of which played an important role for the development of the economic and social spheres. However, this wealth could not be used fully for the country's comprehensive development because of the economic and political peculiarities of the Soviet Union.
Since the collapse of the Soviet regime and transition toward development of a liberal economy, Azerbaijan now has the opportunity to distribute its black gold at its own discretion and to use it with respect to its own national interests and in close cooperation with the international community. The following successes have been achieved:
- The signing of numerous oil and gas PSAs with foreign investors;
- Foreign capital has been directed into the country for the development of oil projects, which contributes to current economic growth;
- The PSAs Azeri-Chirag-Gunashli and Shah Deniz are progressing towards Full Field Development and the construction of export pipelines as a result of joint efforts by the national government and foreign shareholders. Starting in 2005, this will initiate a flow of significant funds, at the expense of export revenues.
Despite success in attracting investors and improving the living standards for people, problems remain, which can negatively affect further development and sustainability of economic growth:
- Insufficient level of investments in non-oil sectors;
- Insufficient level of employment of local people;
- Insufficient level of the use of local companies and private persons as suppliers;
Solution to all these tasks requires application of various policies and approaches, including achievements and means of ICTs, primarily for the purpose of information support:
- In this direction, the government should encourage the development of conceptions and concrete projects, connected with the mobilization of renewing natural resources. In this regard, ICT could be considered as one of the resources demanding rapid transition from the import of to their export.
- To take into account the strategic aims of the MDGs and Poverty Reduction Programs, by developing high technological enterprises of machine building and hardware of ICT, food industry, pharmacology, small and medium enterprises, and competing in the creation of new products for the development of the domestic market of Azerbaijan and export to the international market.
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