Managing Director, BASF Caspian
Our facilities are only for construction-related products. Construction chemicals can be divided into two: admixtures, i.e. what is put into concrete to make it flow and ensure durability, and powder products, such as adhesives, concrete repair products, and water proofing. BASF Caspian is the leader in the admixture market.
BASF Global is not a company in touch with end users. It is only in the construction chemicals division that such a chance is presented. In that respect, we are in touch with end users directly. We have a close relationship with the main construction companies.
For the moment, our products are intended only to meet local demand. In the future we will export to neighboring countries, like Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan, and Georgia as well.
Managing Director, ASPI
Regarding Azerbaijan, there are no alternatives to agriculture in the post-oil outlook for the country, and the sector should be developed based on high-tech SME agribusiness development. Irrigation is also needed.
Environmental impact assessments of infrastructure projects are one of our major areas of activity. In 2009 we completed an environmental monitoring project for Hovsan Wastewater Treatment Plant, where based on strong site investigations, we identified some very important indicators that were then used for the hydraulic modeling of the marine pollution process.
Over the last 10 years ASPI has conducted projects in Georgia, Tajikistan, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Ukraine, and Sudan. For instance, there was an Asian Development Bank (ADB)-funded agricultural project in Tajikistan, a USAID-funded hydropower project in Georgia, and EU-funded energy and water projects in Central Asia.
Managing Director, Khalig Zeynalov
Bauer is a huge, 200-year old company that employs over 8,000 people. As for its foundation rigs, they are of the highest quality. Of course, we have competitors such as Casagrande, yet we are a leader in the sector. We currently have 24 rigs in Azerbaijan, and we have some big customers such as the State Oil Company of Azerbaijan Republic (SOCAR), Gilan Holding, Azerkorpu, and Avesa Teknika.
The crisis began in 2008/09, and affected some of our client companies. To a certain extent, the effects could still be felt up until the end of 2010. However, I think that the forecast for 2011 is looking much better, and we will see increasing levels of demand.
The Azerbaijani construction sector is now in better health than in other countries in the region. There are new buildings being erected all over the country, and the latest heavy machinery is being utilized. However, some countries such as Kazakhstan have larger construction sectors, so there is still a long way to go in Azerbaijan.
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