Opening ceremony of the UNEC Research Center for Sustainable Development and Green Economy Studies named after Nizami Ganjavi was held
The main mission and goals of the Center and its activity for 2022 were discussed at the first meeting of the Governing Board, consisted of representatives of public, private, academia, universities and NGOs. Mr. Vugar Karimov, Deputy Minister of Environment and Natural Resources was elected Chairman of the Governing Board and Ms. Gulnar Mirzayeva, Director of the Center for Sustainable Development and Green Economy Studies was elected secretary of the Board.
The Center has five main goals in the fields of sustainable development and green economy: 1) to develop human capital; 2) to strengthen research capacity; 3) to promote cooperation between business and academia for contribution to research and development, innovations and inventions; 4) to promote public-private-universities-academia-NGOs partnership; 5) to contribute to public awareness on sustainable development and green economy.
After the first meeting of the Board, the official opening of the Center was organized and attended by Professor Adalat Muradov, the Rector of UNEC, members of the Board, officials and representatives of public and private institutions.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, Professor Adalat Muradov underlined that the Center was established on the recommendation of the session on “Green cities and green development prospects” organized within the UNEC’s 3rd International Postgraduate Scientific Conference on Economics and Management held from 4 to 7 June 2021 in the city of Ganja under the title of “Nizami Ganjavi and Sustainable Development” in the framework of Nizami Ganjavi Year. He has highlighted that the Center will conduct researches which will contribute to the future socio-economic development of the country. The Rector also touched upon the concepts of “smart city”, “smart village” and “green energy zone” within the restoration works of liberated territories of Azerbaijan. Noting that these concepts are new for our country, the Rector mentioned that one of the main activities of the Center is also to promote such innovative practices in various fields in Azerbaijan.
Mr. Vugar Karimov, Chairman of the Governing Board of the Center and Deputy Minister of Environment and Natural Resources, noted that the development of the “green economy” has been identified as one of the main priorities of “Azerbaijan 2030: National Priorities for Socio-Economic Development.” He stressed that researches to be conducted at the Center will make an important contribution in this field.
Mr. Elmar Mammadov, a member of the Governing Board of the Center and Senior Adviser of the Secretariat of the First Vice President of Azerbaijan, reminded that back in 2015 Azerbaijan has received South-South Award for successful implementation of the UN Millenium Development Goals and continues its efforts for efficient realization of the UN Sustainable Development Goals and contribution to the global efforts on climate change challenges. He listed several mains projects implemented in Azerbaijan in the field of green economy and green city as clean city, white city, green port projects. E.Mammadov highlighted that on the initiative of the President of Azerbaijan the green energy zone will be established in the liberated Karabakh and Eastern Zangezur economic regions and it will be biggest green economy project implemented in the country. In this line, he underlined importance of estbalishment of this Center for development of human capital and reserach capacity in Azerbaijan in the fields of sustainable development and green economy.
At the end of his speech he highlighted that this year Azerbaijan celebrates 880th anniversary of great Azerbaijani poet and philosopher Nizami Ganjavi, who promoted key elements of our today’s global sustainable development goals through his poems and called to save our planet for all of us. He also reminded that back in the 17th century, french orientalist Barthelemy d’Herbelot de Molainville has informed Europe that Nizami Ganjavi in an unusually beautiful poetic and widely accessible form, proclaimed the following phrase in the 12th century: “On earth, in society, between people and nature, should reign harmony and consent, otherwise humanity will destroy itself”.
Ms. Gulnar Mirzayeva, the Secretary of the Governing Board and Director of the Research Center made a comprehensive presentation about the Center and its future activities. She also underlined that the Center is ready for international cooperation.
After the speeches, the questions of the participants were answered.