Touch-down in this beautiful, historic and cultured capital. From the airport, take one of the dozens of iconic London cabs waiting in a very organized British queue at the curb of the terminal. Sounds like you just landed at Heathrow, right? Except that all the cabs are painted purple. Guess again. It is Heydar Aliyev International Airport in Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan. Without delay and without traffic, thanks to a multi-billion dollar sophisticated traffic management and control system, you arrive at your hotel in the capital, located along the Caspian Sea in this former stop along the Silk Road.

Architecturally innovative but elegant, and striking buildings have been and continue to be erected in all directions. The skyline is filled with construction cranes. Vacant lots are being turned into residential buildings, office buildings, and shopping malls. The construction is marked by the use of materials and a construction quality that is meant to deliver durability, and long lasting beauty. The public spaces in Baku and beyond in the districts are being re-made at a record pace. One of the longest parks in the world extends for miles alongside Baku’s waterfront.

Donald Trump is constructing a super-luxury residential building here in a newly rising residential/mixed-use complex with sweeping views of Baku. Its architecture is soaring and venturesome. Each apartment will be spacious, unique, and appointed to the demanding Donald’s specifications. Construction should be completed by summer’s end.

The largest KFC in the world is located here in the heart of Baku, housed in an ornate, palatial structure built in the 1800′s but repurposed for its present usage. And as a special treat, this KFC serves beer, an unheard of offering in the United States. And elsewhere across the country? Four years ago President Ilham Aliyev outlined a sweeping program to address and improve an expansive range of public and civic life issues and institutions to occur in a very short period of time. The changes that are happening all around citizens of Azerbaijan, Azeris, have one goal, to improve their quality of life

For an American, the list reads a bit like an outline of President Roosevelt’s New Deal program — road and infrastructure improvements, development of fresh, clean water sources, improvement of the energy grid and waste management, creation of renewable energy sources, gas-line extensions to every residential settlement throughout the country, land reclamation development, irrigation advancements, solidifying food security, implementation of the best agricultural technologies, support of private enterprise and entrepreneurial initiatives — including the renovation of all 4,500 schools throughout the country with private and public internet connection speeds as fast as anywhere in the developed world.

These broad-based, extensive infrastructure and technological advancements and upgrades are possible in the short span of four years because President Aliyev has chosen to turn its vast oil-capital into human-capital. Revenue from the country’s vast, oil-reserves are also being used to explore and develop renewables, and green initiatives, and best-practice technologies in every sector.

Azeris also have much to be proud of beyond their borders. For starters, Azerbaijan has a seat on the United Nations Security Council. Forbes ranks Azerbaijan 24th in terms of providing investor protection and 15th as a country that is able to avoid the red tape that usually plagues most emerging economies.

Overall, Azerbaijan is ranked #73 out of 141 in the Forbes list of the best countries to do business. Right under Brazil and coming in ahead of China (96th), India (97th) and Russia (#105th).

The country has business ties with many other nations, and is a member — in good standing — on numerous deliberative international bodies. Recently Azerbaijan recently launched its own telecommunications satellite.

In addition to taking care of their own people and insuring a future filled with a high-standard of living and self-reliance for generations to come, Azerbaijan also wants to tell others about their rich history and culture. They invite the world to come to their country and experience its beauty of the past and the present, and to see first hand how promising their future looks. What Azerbaijan wants is what all intellectually evolved and emotionally rich countries want, to be counted as an equal among the nations of the world. Azerbaijan is on its way…“London, Paris, New York, Hong Kong, Dubai…Baku?” Stay tuned. Better yet, go see for yourself.