Azerbaijan, Lithuania to hold business forum
By Aynur Jafarova
Azerbaijan and Lithuania are preparing to hold the next meeting of the intergovernmental commission and business forum in one of Azerbaijan's regions by late 2014.
The news was announced by Azerbaijan's Economy and Industry Minister Shahin Mustafayev at a meeting with newly appointed Lithuanian Ambassador Valdas Lastauskas on October 10.
The sides noted that the relations between the two countries are developing in various fields.
Mustafayev said the existing legal base, the activity of the intergovernmental commission on bilateral cooperation create favorable conditions for the development of cooperation in the economic field.
Lastauskas, for his part, expressed satisfaction with his appointment to the post of Lithuanian ambassador to Azerbaijan and said he will do his best to expand the cooperation between the two countries.
He also provided information on the Lithuanian economy and spoke about the possibilities of the development of relations in the field of health care and technology.
The sides also exchanged views on cooperation in the fields of pharmaceuticals, ICT, and agriculture.
Lithuania recognized Azerbaijan's independence on December 21, 1991. Diplomatic relations between two countries were established in November, 1992. The Lithuanian embassy was opened in Azerbaijan on April 3, 2007. The Azerbaijani embassy was opened in Lithuania in September 2007.
According to the statistics of Azerbaijan's State Customs Committee, foreign trade turnover between Azerbaijan and Lithuania increased by 9.4 percent in January-September 2013 compared to the same period last year and reached $17.58 million. During 2013, Azerbaijan's imports increased by 12.2 percent and reached $15.7 million, while exports decreased by 9.5 percent and reached $1.9 million.