Azerbaijan, Germany mull agricultural co-op
By Aynur Jafarova
Azerbaijan and Germany considered the prospects of cooperation in the agricultural field during the meeting of Azerbaijani Agriculture Minister Heydar Asadov and German Ambassador to Baku Heidrun Tempel on January 15.
Asadov said Germany supports Azerbaijan's initiatives in the agrarian sphere, adding that special attention is paid to the enhancement of relations and cooperation with Germany.
The minister went on to say that Germany has huge experience in the agrarian sphere, and mentioned Azerbaijan's plan to purchase 100 Claas combines from Germany.
"There is a great potential for cooperation with Germany," he said.
He also underlined the importance of viewing the opportunities to establish joint ventures on production of technical equipment, production of veterinary and plant protection devices, enhancing cooperation between German Society for International Cooperation and the Azerbaijani Agriculture Ministry.
The minister invited German companies to take part in Food and Agriculture Exhibition in Baku in May and said there is favorable environment in Azerbaijan to make investments in agrarian sector.
The German ambassador, in turn, said the bilateral relations will be continued in spheres of food safety, science and research, food quality, workforce capacity and technical provision of agriculture.
Diplomatic relations between Azerbaijan and Germany were established in February 1992. The Azerbaijani-German trade turnover amounted to $1.744 billion in 2012. In the first half of 2013, the figure was $1.066 billion.
There are over 100 German companies in Azerbaijan. German companies have also acted as contractors under 10 investment projects worth more than 460 million euros.
A solid legal base exists between Azerbaijan and Germany. To date, around 29 intergovernmental documents have been signed between the two countries.