Czech Republic to offer new economic cooperation to Azerbaijan
By Sara Rajabova
The Czech president will pay an official visit to Azerbaijan to view prospects of bilateral cooperation between the two governments.
Farid Shafiyev, Azerbaijani ambassador to the Czech Republic informed that the cooperation prospects between the two countries will be discussed during Czech President Milos Zeman’s official visit to Baku, scheduled for September 14-15.
He told Trend on August 27 that the Czech Republic will present new economic cooperation proposals to Azerbaijan.
Shafiyev said the country’s government pins great hopes for increasing the number of the Czech companies in such areas of Azerbaijan as agriculture, construction, transport infrastructure and others.
During the visit the Czech president will be accompanied by a delegation of some 60 representatives of business circles, which testifies to the country’s interest in developing the cooperation with Azerbaijan.
Shafiyev noted that the Czech businessmen will meet with their Azerbaijani counterparts. The Czech companies have a number of projects that they will present to Azerbaijani colleagues during these meetings.
The governments of the two countries currently continue to work on projects of bilateral documents to be signed during the visit as well, according to the ambassador.
Shafiyev earlier said Czech companies are already present in Azerbaijan and implement contracts worth about $1 billion, noting that implementation of the contract for the construction of Baku-Guba highway worth $300 million has been completed.
The ambassador also went on to add that the Czech Republic is also open for Azerbaijani investments, in the meantime noting that over the last 10 years, foreign companies, including the Azerbaijani ones, have showed interest for real estate in the Czech Republic, particularly in Karlovy Vary spa town.
Shafiyev said the forthcoming visit of the Czech president to Azerbaijan will give an additional impetus to relations between the two countries.
Currently, the Czech Republic mainly imports Azerbaijani oil, while industrial equipment and consumer goods are exported to Azerbaijan.
In January-July 2015, the trade turnover between the two countries amounted to $440.93 million, according to the State Customs Committee of Azerbaijan.
The Czech Republic recognized the independence of Azerbaijan on January 8, 1992. Two countries established diplomatic relations on January 29, 1993.
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Sara Rajabova is AzerNews’ staff journalist, follow her on
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