Individuals who stand out for their professionalism, hard work, and long-term dedication hold a special place in the history of the development of Azerbaijan’s agricultural industry. One such person is Khalil Alakbarov, who has dedicated most of his life to the processing of agricultural products, the development of the food industry, and the formation of quality systems. It can be noted with pride that the honorable career path of Khalil Alakbarov constitutes an important chapter in the chronicle of the development of Azerbaijan’s agriculture and processing industry.
Khalil Alakbarov worked in the system of the Ministry of Agriculture of Azerbaijan for 40 years (1974–2014) and made great contributions to the development of the agricultural product processing industry in our country. By closely participating in the establishment and creation of agricultural product manufacturing enterprises, he rendered great services in the 70s and 80s of the last century in raising Azerbaijan to leading positions in the Soviet Union in the fruit and vegetable processing industry.
During his time in various leadership positions at the Ministry of Fruit and Vegetable Economy of Soviet Azerbaijan, Khalil Alakbarov carried out important work in the formation of canned food production enterprises and wineries in our country, as well as in increasing the export capacity of viticulture products. After our country gained independence, he continued to work selflessly in this direction, leading the fields of licensing, quality, and standardization of food products at the Ministry of Agriculture of the Republic of Azerbaijan. He made exceptional contributions to the production of food products in Azerbaijan based on modern quality requirements, the introduction of the world’s leading standards for plant protection in our country, the development of new quality regulations and standards, the application of new technologies in the fields of fruit and vegetable processing, canning, and winemaking, and the reconstruction of wineries.
After Azerbaijan gained independence, Khalil Alakbarov, as a civil servant within the framework of state support, closely participated in the revival of countless production enterprises and fruit and vegetable canning factories that had ceased operations in our country, as well as in the process of bringing them to world markets by processing them according to modern quality indicators for the purpose of exporting viticulture products to world countries. He also participated closely in the establishment of quality control laboratories in production enterprises and the training of qualified technologists.
Khalil Alakbarov was born on May 15, 1951. In 1969-1974, he studied at the Technology Faculty of the Azerbaijan Polytechnic Institute, specializing in “Canning Technology.” He was sent to work at the Khudat cannery in the Khachmaz district by appointment, and in 1974, he began his career at the Khudat cannery as a shift foreman. During his time there, he rose to the positions of shift engineer, shift manager, deputy director, and director. In 1980, upon the recommendation of the Khachmaz district leadership and by the order of the Ministry of Fruit and Vegetable Economy, he was appointed as the head of industrial processing at the Khachmaz District Agro-Industrial Union. From 1981 to 2014, he worked in various leadership positions in the central apparatus of the Ministry of Agriculture of Azerbaijan and in a number of canneries operating in various districts of our country.
Between 1980 and 1990, based on the instructions of the Ministry’s leadership, he was sent to canneries in Khachmaz, Sabirabad, Navahi, Lankaran, Agsu, Saatli, Goychay, and other districts, where he served as production director. He participated directly in the establishment and creation of new enterprises, factories, and production processes based on modern technologies for the production and processing of food products in Azerbaijan, the implementation of quality control systems, and the training of qualified technologists in this field.
He held leadership positions in the Main Directorate of the Processing Industry of the Ministry of Agriculture Apparatus in 1993-1995, in the Department of Product Quality and Standardization of the Ministry of Agriculture Apparatus in 1995-1998, and in the departments of Food Product Quality, Standards, and Licensing of the Ministry of Agriculture Apparatus in 1998-2007.
During his time working in leading and managerial positions in the structural divisions of state bodies, Khalil Alakbarov was awarded the ranks of Junior Advisor of the Civil Service and later Senior Advisor of the Civil Service in accordance with the Law of the Republic of Azerbaijan “On Civil Service” and based on the relevant orders of the Minister of Agriculture of the Republic of Azerbaijan, due to his distinguished service in the civil service and his contributions to the development of the agricultural sector in our country.
Although he retired in 2014, he received invitations from a number of state institutions of our country and worked as a consultant and expert-auditor at the State Committee for Standardization, Metrology and Patents of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Azerbaijan Standardization and Certification Institute, and as a department head in the Law and Regulatory Regulation Department at the Food Safety Agency of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Azerbaijan Food Safety Institute. As an experienced agricultural professional with many years of experience, he spared no effort in the development of these fields.
We thank Khalil Alakbarov for his many years of contributions, effective work, selfless labor, and unparalleled services to the development of agriculture in our country, and we sincerely congratulate him on his 75th Jubilee. We wish him robust health, a long life, and new successes in his productive work. We wish him to live always with respect and honor, surrounded by his loved ones.