President of the Republic of Azerbaijan addressed the participants of the 71st IAC

President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, H.E. Mr. Ilham Aliyev addressed the participants of the 71st International Astronautical Congress (IAC 2020) that has started today in a virtual format. This year’s “Cyberspace Edition” of the International Astronautical Congress is bringing together over ten thousand representatives of the international space community, including heads of leading space agencies, scientific centers, and international organizations, as well as famous scientists, high-level professionals from the private sector, young researchers and students.

In his video address, President Aliyev mentioned that the International Astronautical Congress was held in Baku in 1973 only once in the proximate geography and added that the selection of Azerbaijan as a host for the Congress demonstrated the high intellectual and technical potential of our people and our country. He emphasized how symbolic it will be for the congress to be hosted in Baku in 2023 50 years later.

The President has also touched upon the tremendous progress made in various areas of state affairs and economic development, including the increase in GDP levels, decrease in the level of poverty and the availability of reserves which six times exceed the foreign debt that constitutes only 20% of Azerbaijan’s GDP.

“Azerbaijan today is a member of the space club and, with three satellites, Azerbaijan is planning to continue its activity in this direction. And I’m sure that the Congress to be held in our capital in 2023 will give additional impetus to the development of space industry in our country”, said President Ilham Aliyev and concluded his speech with the hope to see the international space community in Baku in 2023.

It is worth to mention that the International Astronautical Congress will take place virtually, between October 12-14. A number of plenary, technical and special sessions will be aired live on IAC 2020 website, which will allow a larger audience to benefit from the congress.