EU interested in food imports from Azerbaijan
By Amina Nazarli
The European Union countries are interested in the import of food products from Azerbaijan, said Malena Mard on February 22.
At the meeting with Deputy Prime Minister Ali Ahmadov, the EU Baku mission head said that that the structure she represents will support programs important for the development of regions in the future.
She highlighted the successful cooperation between Azerbaijan and the EU, further voicing satisfaction over the country’s active participation in the global processes taking place in Europe, in particular, the energy security.
Ahmadov, in turn, noted that social policy is a priority for the country and reminded of the additional measures taken to improve food security in the name of welfare of the population.
He informed about the care and attention to the food sector, including the agricultural sector, as well as resolutions and ordinances adopted for the development of this sector, provision of soft loans to farmers and other reforms.
The Deputy Prime Minister announced about the start of Food Safety program, aiming to ensure the health of the population and provide a reliable food products.
Expressing gratitude for the EU support to projects implemented in Azerbaijan, Ahmadov said that the government will take all necessary steps to continue the mutually beneficial cooperation.
During the meeting, there was an extensive exchange of views on a number of issues of mutual interest.
Over the past years, Azerbaijan had a very close cooperation with EU’s various institutions and member countries. The energy-rich country signed and adopted documents on strategic partnership with nine member countries of the EU.
Meanwhile, the first round of the long-awaited talks between the European Union and Azerbaijan on new strategic partnership agreement maybe held this spring.
The new agreement should replace the 1996 partnership and cooperation agreement and should better take account of the shared objectives and challenges the EU and Azerbaijan face today. The deal will follow the principles endorsed in the 2015 review of the European neighborhood policy and offer a renewed basis for political dialogue and mutually beneficial cooperation between the EU and Azerbaijan.
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Amina Nazarli is AzerNews’ staff journalist, follow her on
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