Azerbaijan, transit country to sell Polish agricultural products to Iran
By Aynur Jafarova
Poland considers Azerbaijan not only as its potential partner
for cooperation in the agricultural sector, but also as a transit
country for the sale of agricultural products to Iran, Polish
Agriculture and Rural Development Minister Marek Sawicki said
during his latest visit to Baku.
“Azerbaijan is a leading country in the region, but relations with
Poland in agriculture, unfortunately, are limited,” he told Trend
Agency. “During a meeting with Minister of Agriculture of
Azerbaijan Heydar Asadov and representatives of business circles,
we proposed bilateral cooperation, which includes both export and
import of products, as well as our technical and advisory
assistance. Poland can also help with the supply of equipment for
the factories of meat and milk production. We can have a good
exchange of fruits and vegetables.”
He also acknowledged that the trade turnover between the two
countries in agriculture is quite low.
“The trade turnover is around 12 million euros,” Sawicki said.
“During the last few years, it has grown, but we would like it to
become even higher, because there are good capacities in this
field.”
The minister went on adding that the embargo on the import of
products into Russia has slightly affected the Polish export.
“Russia was not a major trading partner of Poland,” he said.
“Russia ranked the 7th in the structure of Poland’s agricultural
export. Of Poland's 20 billion worth of exports, only 1.3 billion
accounted for Russia. In general, in 2013 Poland exported
agricultural products worth 20 billion euros, and imported goods
worth 13 billion euros.”
Sawicki believes his visit is only a preparatory stage within the
framework of the forthcoming meeting of the Azerbaijani-Polish
intergovernmental commission.
“This visit was made on my initiation to prepare a base for further
development. This was accepted by our Azerbaijani partners with
pleasure. Following this visit, several meetings will be held
between the Polish and Azerbaijani businessmen. A meeting of the
intergovernmental commission will also be held on December 15.
Great attention will be paid to the issue of agrarian cooperation.
We agreed on cooperation between our phytosanitary and veterinary
inspections in the field of animal husbandry, etc," he said.
He also stressed that Azerbaijan has just started reforming its
agriculture and Poland is ready to render any assistance in the
implementation of these reforms.
"Azerbaijani Minister of Agriculture Heydar Asadov informed me about the huge investments which are planned to be made to reform the country's agriculture. We are ready to render any assistance in the implementation of reforms and share our experience." the minister said.
The minister went on noting that the major share in the export of agricultural products to Azerbaijan accounts for meat products.
“Azerbaijani market has a lot of chicken and beef sausages
imported from Poland. We would also like to export our dairy
products, but it is for the Azerbaijani partners to decide what to
purchase,” he said. “ We need a local partner that knows the market
and the needs of consumers in Azerbaijan. Moreover, Azerbaijan is a
leading country in the region. Why does not Poland sell chicken or
beef, for example, to Iran’s Azerbaijanis through Azerbaijan? There
are 25 million Iran’s Azerbaijanis there.”
He also said unfortunately, Azerbaijani tea is not exported to
Poland.
"Dried fruits, nuts and pomegranates are mainly supplied by
Azerbaijan to Poland,” he said. “But, for example, there are no
raisins and Azerbaijani tea in Poland. It is necessary for both
sides to increase exports and imports. Our countries have
everything necessary for this end.”
Poland recognized Azerbaijan's independence on December 27, 1991. The diplomatic relations between the two countries were established on February 21, 1992.
The trade turnover between them amounted to 62.9 million mantas in the first nine months of 2014.