Anar Aliyev: “my cooperation with socar started in 2003”

“I am 36 years old and I am from Nakhchivan. I am not related to the officials, which are from this same Autonomous Republic. There is a stereotype in Azerbaijan that a successful businessman must be related to the officials. I have been subjected to groundless criticism and certain forces abroad have taken advantage of that to cause damage to our country,” Anar Aliyev, the main character of the scandalous report of Global Witness about State Oil Company of Azerbaijan (SOCAR), said in his interview to Business Time magazine.
He said in 2002-2003 he founded Aztrans company. The firm was involved in export of fruit to Russia. After that he started investing capital into the computer equipment delivered from Dubai.
“Afterwards I founded the company in UAE. During a very short period I have made a good profit. Then it was turn of oil: I supplied the oil companies with pipes and equipment. Then I started Grand MMC company, which provided services to the oil companies,” businessman said.
He said his cooperation with SOCAR started in 2003-2004.
“As SOCAR is a leading company of the country, one cannot avoid cooperation with it. In 2003-2004 Grand MMC delivered SOCAR the X-ray equipment for the pipe check. During many years my companies provided various services to SOCAR, delivered equipment, devices and etc and also carried out construction. A successful cooperation with SOCAR allowed me turning into a reliable contractor. Owing to that and support provided by the government to the local entrepreneurs, my companies managed to be represented in some SOCAR’s projects,” Aliyev said.
He said the proposal to establish SOCAR Trading SA was made by famous oil trader Valerii Golovushkin (ex Vice –President LUKoil).
“That time SOCAR exported its oil to the world markets by means of foreign companies. This created various mechanisms of political pressure on our country. We have offered to create a new trading company in Switzerland. That time SOCAR did not have an experience to establish the similar companies abroad and the administration supported our idea. Thus, we have established SOCAR Trading SA. After that Azerbaijani oil price in the world went up and it has turned into the country’s brand name. Our proposal has helped to develop Azerbaijan’s economy. According to the agreement, the first years we sponsored the company’s operations. After five years we had to sell all our shares to SOCAR. I have spent a lot of money for the company’s development. The figures mentioned by Global Witness do not fully reflect the reality. For instance, during the economic crisis in 2008, I had to invest a lot of money into this company to save it from bankruptcy,” the businessman said.
“I do not quite understand position of Global Witness. But I guess who could have ordered the report,” said Anar Aliyev.
When asked why information about his business empire is kept secret, Anar Aliyev explained that the whole information in the report was taken from the open sources on the internet.
Anar Aliyev once again said that his business is absolutely fair and legal.
“All the companies are owned by me and I pay the taxes. Only in 2013 I paid to the budget of Azerbaijan tens of million AZN from the operations of my companies abroad,” he added.
He also did not rule out the fact that he could sue Global Witness organization for insulting his honor and dignity.
Aliyev refuted information in media that he is hiding abroad, he added that he lives with his family in Baku.
He said that invests majority of his capital into Azerbaijan.