Azernews.Az

By Aynur Jafarova

Successes and achievements existing in the economic cooperation between Azerbaijan and Tajikistan insufficiently reflect the potential for their development, for which there are all prerequisites, Azerbaijan's Economic Development Minister Shahin Mustafayev said on September 3.

He was addressing the second meeting of Azerbaijani-Tajik intergovernmental commission for trade and economic cooperation held in Baku.

"Relations between our countries successfully develop in all fields - political, economic and cultural spheres. Mutual visits, including high-level visits have significantly contributed to the development of bilateral cooperation," Mustafayev noted

According to him, one can confidently say that a solid legal framework was established between Azerbaijan and Tajikistan in the economic field.

"Nearly 40 agreements, including the agreements on free trade, promotion of mutual investments, elimination of double taxation, as well as program for economic cooperation up to 2015 were signed between our countries," Mustafayev underscored.

According to the minister, this basis plays a significant role for development of trade and economic relations between Azerbaijan and Tajikistan.

"Trade plays an important role in our relations. It should be noted that the trade turnover between the two countries increased by 2.8 times and amounted to $44 million in 2012. Unfortunately, in spite of expanding the nomenclature of exported goods from Azerbaijan to Tajikistan, a certain decrease is observed in 2013. We should discuss the issues of ensuring the development of trade and economic relations between the two countries within this meeting," Mustafayev said.

Speaking at the meeting Tajik Irrigation and Water Resources Minister Rahmat Bobokalonov said Tajikistan is ready to take measures for development of cooperation.

"Our nations have long-standing ties of friendship. Azerbaijan supported and continues to support our country many years. The cornerstone of this support was laid by a great son of Azerbaijani nation Heydar Aliyev. The development of our relations is the integral part of Tajikistan's foreign policy. Fruitful mutual visits of the heads of our states and a great number of signed bilateral agreements indicate the dynamic development of relations between Azerbaijan and Tajikistan," Bobokalonov said.

According to him, the analysis of mutual cooperation indicates that there are untapped reserves in relations between the two countries in the current stage.

"We believe that the priorities of bilateral Azerbaijani-Tajik cooperation are the creation of joint enterprises, cooperation in the sphere of food industry and attracting investments," the Tajik minister noted.

According to Bobokalonov, Tajikistan is ready to provide conditions for creating and further activity of joint Azerbaijani-Tajik enterprises in the country's territory.

"We are ready to create conditions for opening joint enterprises, and to take measures for providing these enterprises with raw materials and necessary materials," Bobokalonov stressed.

At the end of the bilateral meeting between the delegations, a protocol was signed for the second meeting of the intergovernmental commission.

The document reflects the priorities of development of cooperation between the two countries in the fields of trade, mutual investments, agriculture, construction, information and communication technologies, tourism and others.

Within the visit to Azerbaijan, the Tajik delegation led by Bobokalonov will visit various enterprises operating in Azerbaijan and hold several meetings.

Mustafayev and Bobokalanov are the co-chairs of the intergovernmental commission.

The diplomatic relations between the two countries were established on May 29, 1992. Trade turnover between Azerbaijan and Tajikistan increased by 2.5 times to $60 million in 2012.