Agriculture, industry in focus of Azerbaijan-Russia business talks
By Nazrin Gadimova
Azerbaijani Economy and Industry Minister Shahin Mustafayev met Russian Minister of Regional Development Igor Slyunyayev on the sidelines of the 5th Azerbaijan-Russia Interregional Forum in Gabala on June 23.
Mustafayev hailed Azerbaijan-Russia relations as "successfully developing", saying they reached the level of strategic partnership, AzerTag state news agency reported.
The sides praised cooperation between the two countries and their regions in economic, trade, investment and humanitarian areas.
Mustafayev stressed the importance of the Azerbaijan-Russia Interregional Forum, saying it would contribute to the development of cooperation.
Slyunyayev, in turn, said businessmen from a range of fields representing 25 federal subjects of Russia were attending the forum. He expressed confidence the event would open new prospects for developing the regional relations and boosting Azerbaijan-Russia business partnership.
They discussed cooperation between the regions of Azerbaijan and Russia, as well as the signing of bilateral documents, and the ways of developing the ties in the fields of agriculture and industry.
Russia is the main trade partner of Azerbaijan in the CIS. Over the past ten years, the volume of Azerbaijan's investment in Russia's economy amounted to around $1 billion, $200 million of which fell on 2013.
About 570 Russian companies are operating in the country, and over $628 million was invested in fixed capital.