On August 20–21, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva toured the western regions of the country — the Ganja-Dashkasan, East Zangezur, and Karabakh economic zones. Today, these territories are seen as a kind of “western pole” of development, where the state seeks to anchor a model of economic diversification that unites industry, tourism, agriculture, and cultural heritage. The visit was multi-layered: it reflected not only economic priorities but also carried important political messages directly linked to historical memory and the outcomes of the Karabakh conflict.
The historic capital of the region, Ganja, was the first stop of the trip. Once a major industrial hub with machine building, aluminum production, and winemaking, the city faced crisis in the 1990s, with job losses and mass migration. Today, thanks to targeted state programs, Ganja is regaining its lost position. Large-scale urban improvement and modernization of sports infrastructure, timed for the 2025 CIS Games, have included street upgrades, park reconstructions, and public space renovations. These measures both enhance the urban environment and create jobs, easing social tensions. At the same time, a new basalt production plant is being built, highlighting the course toward industrial revival and strengthening export potential.
Yet Ganja matters not only as an economic center. It is part of Azerbaijan’s historical identity: the first democratic government in 1918 was located here, and the poet Nizami Ganjavi — a symbol of cultural heritage — was born here. During the Second Karabakh War, the city was shelled, cementing its image as a city-symbol of resilience. In this context, work on the memorial complex is not just a cultural project but also a tool for preserving national memory and consolidating society.
The settlement of Hajikend, included in the visit program, illustrates another dimension of diversification — tourism development. In Soviet times it was a resort area, but after independence its infrastructure fell into decline. Its restoration today is seen as part of a national strategy to make tourism a sustainable source of income alongside industry and agriculture. This helps create a more balanced regional economy, with each sector reinforcing the other.
A significant part of the trip was a visit to the construction site of the Toghanaly–Kalbajar–Istisu highway. This 82-kilometer project carries special strategic importance. In the past, the lack of transport connections across the Murovdag ridge effectively isolated Kalbajar from the country’s central regions, a tragic factor during the First Karabakh War when the Azerbaijani population was trapped under Armenian attacks. The new road is meant to end that isolation, secure reliable access to Ganja, and lay the foundation for sustainable agricultural, tourism, and industrial development. The route to Istisu, famous for its mineral springs, is particularly important, envisioned as a hub of health tourism.
The culmination of the visit was Kalbajar itself, returned to Azerbaijani control after the Second Karabakh War. Devastated and emptied during years of occupation, the region now symbolizes renewal. During the trip, new administrative and social facilities were inaugurated, electricity and water supply lines restored, and work began on reviving the Istisu resort. Here, the president addressed residents, stressing that Kalbajar’s return represents not only a military and political success but also the restoration of historical justice.
In his speech, the president emphasized two key points. First — the memory of Armenian occupation. He reminded that not a single building remained intact in Kalbajar, with destruction being systemic. These words framed Armenia’s policies in the region as deliberate and barbaric, their consequences unforgettable. He stressed that forgetting or forgiving such acts is impossible, and remembrance will form part of the national identity. Second — peace and regional politics. The president underlined that Azerbaijan itself authored the text of the peace treaty, the initialing of which essentially concludes the decades-long conflict. This message seeks to cement Azerbaijan’s role as a shaper of new regional rules. Aliyev also highlighted a strategic achievement — securing a land link with Nakhchivan, thus closing a long-standing geopolitical gap.
Thus, the visit of Ilham Aliyev and the First Lady to the western regions can be viewed in three dimensions. Economic — restoring industry, developing tourism, and building infrastructure that turn the region into a new hub of non-oil growth. Political — asserting Azerbaijan as the side defining the post-war order and rendering obsolete international mediation formats. Historical-memory — focusing on the destruction and tragedies of occupation, now woven into the national narrative and serving as a basis for future unity. Taken together, these dimensions show that state policy in the western regions is not just a set of separate projects, but a comprehensive strategy that unites economy, history, and politics into a single process of national revival.
Ilgar Velizade
