BAKU, December 28 (RIA Novosti, Gerai Dadashev) - Azerbaijan ranks first in the economic growth rates in the world in 2005, President Ilkham Aliyev said Wednesday.
In 2005, the country's economic growth rate hit 26%, compared to the average of 10% beginning with 1996.
According to Aliyev, national industrial growth was 50% and average wages reached $140. He said inflation decreased from 15% in the beginning of 2005 to 9.8% at the end of the year.
Aliyev said the denomination of the national currency, the new manat, to be launched in 2006 was also a sign of economic growth.