Azerbaijan is carrying out large-scale reconstruction and development projects in the liberated areas of Karabakh and estern Zangazur economic regions. The country is also implementing the “Great Return” State Program. These projects are closely followed at the international level as an example of how to rebuild areas after a conflict. In particular the use of “Smart City”, “Smart Village” and “Green Zone” concepts is seen as a new model in modern urban planning.

The projects carried out in Karabakh and Eastern Zangazur create practical experience for   conflict affected countries. The reconstruction work and the successful implementation of the “Great Return” Program are considered an example at the international level. This experience is especially important for countries suffered from conflicts. It is not a coincidence that the countries participating in the World Urban Forum held in Baku showed great interest in Azerbaijan’s experience.

The projects in the liberated areas are not only about rebuilding. They are also an important part of Azerbaijan’s long-term development strategy. First of all, the return of people to their homes is important. It brings life back to the liberated areas and also helps solve demographic problems. At the same time, the work carried out in Karabakh and Eastern Zangazur contributes to the development of the country’s economy, especially the “green energy” sector. This creates new opportunities for the development of the region as a whole. The region’s important geopolitical location makes these projects even more important.

Alongside this, the work being carried out in Karabakh and Eastern Zangezur makes an important contribution to the diversification of the national economy, particularly to the development of the “green energy” sector. This, in general, opens up new prospects for the development of the region. The region’s geostrategic location further increases the significance of the projects being implemented. This is because Karabakh and Eastern Zangezur are situated along the Middle Corridor, one of the key routes of the Eurasian transport network. The socio-economic development of these regions and the establishment of modern infrastructure also create the conditions for the further development of transport corridors.

The reconstruction efforts being carried out in these regions and the return of life there are important not only for the development of the national economy, but also for further strengthening Azerbaijan’s role as a regional transportation hub. Despite all these processes, the mine threat remains one of the most serious humanitarian problems of the post-conflict period. On the one hand, this problem is among the main factors hindering the restoration of infrastructure and the achievement of sustainable socio-economic development in the region, and on the other, it slows down the Great Return process. Azerbaijan is effectively fighting the mine problem on its own. On the one hand, work is underway to rebuild completely destroyed cities and settlements and establish modern infrastructure; on the other, efforts are being made to implement the “Great Return” Program in a safe environment, while large-scale activities to address the mine problem continue in parallel. Despite all the challenges, there is no other country in the world that is simultaneously addressing these problems, achieving successful results, and developing new experience at the international level.