Iranian ICT minister arrives in Baku
By Nigar Orujova
The Iranian Communications and Information Technology Minister, Co-chairman of the Azerbaijani-Iranian Intergovernmental Commission on cooperation in economic, trade and humanitarian spheres, Mahmoud Vaezi, arrived in Azerbaijan on November 6.
The two-day visit aims to prepare the documents and reports before the official visit of Iranian President Hassan Rouhani to Azerbaijan, which is scheduled for mid-November.
During the visit, Vaezi will meet with the Co-chairman of the Intergovernmental Commission from the Azerbaijani side, the Minister of Economy and Industry Shahin Mustafayev.
Azerbaijan and Iran will sign ten documents, which are aimed at the development of cooperation in the fields of electric power, simplification of customs procedures, transport, tourism and trade during the visit of the Iranian president to the country.
Earlier, Vaezi said the documents to be signed will mainly cover the purchase of electricity from Azerbaijan, taking advantage of border rivers, simplification of customs procedures, and expansion of cooperation in cargo transportation, gas, energy, tourism and trade sectors.
As part of the visit to Azerbaijan, the Iranian president plans to deliver a speech at the parliament, and meet with representatives of the private and industrial sectors. The president will be accompanied by representatives of the private sector of the West Azerbaijan, East Azerbaijan, Ardabil and Gilan provinces.
Recently, the relations between the neighboring countries with a long history of bilateral ties and cooperation have risen to a higher level.
The sides reached an agreement in October about launching an Azerbaijani-language TV channel covering Iran's territory, which is the home of nearly 30 million Azerbaijanis in October.
The two countries agreed on all outstanding issues of frequency resources regulation in the border territories during the visit of an Azerbaijani delegation to Tehran in June.
A document on cooperation between the two countries in the field of postal services is also expected to be signed by late 2014.
Cooperation in the field of information and communication technologies will open the Iranian ICT market to Azerbaijani companies. Meanwhile, the Iranian companies will gain access to the Azerbaijani market.