Azernews.Az

By Laman Ismayilova

Azerbaijan’s Agriculture Minister Heydar Asadov has met with Governor of Russia's Arkhangelsk Region Igor Orlov in Baku to discuss ways of developing agricultural cooperation and increasing the effectiveness of agricultural import and export processes.

The minister hailed economic, political and agricultural relations between the two countries, and highlighted the president’s attention to the development of agriculture as the priority sphere of Azerbaijan`s economy.

Asadov emphasized the bilateral meetings held between businessmen as part of the 7th Azerbaijani-Russian Interregional Forum in Baku.

The Azerbaijani minister informed of the country`s export potential and proposed exporting agricultural products to Arkhangelsk.

Orlov, in turn, welcomed the Azerbaijani minister`s proposal and they agreed to continue discussions on the level of the working group.

During the 7th Azerbaijan-Russia interregional forum held on November 1, Arkhangelsk region also expressed an interest in Azerbaijan’s experience in developing industrial parks t.

Deputy Chair of Arkhangelsk government Viktor Ikonnikov said that trade between Arkhangelsk region and Azerbaijan amounted to $7 million in the first six months of this year. “This is somewhat lower than in the same period of last year.”

“We need to find new logistic solutions, new partners, successful models of cooperation of industrial enterprises, including in shipbuilding industry, which is being actively developed in Azerbaijan,” said Ikonnikov.

Deputy Minister of Agroindustrial Complex and Trade of Arkhangelsk region Irina Bajanova said that large trade networks operated in the region and they were interested in supplies of Azerbaijani fruits and vegetables.

“Today we are exploring possibilities to ensure direct supplies of Azerbaijani fruits and vegetables to Arkhangelsk region,” she added.

On the sidelines of the forum representatives of Arkhangelsk region discussed ways of supporting small and medium entrepreneurship, mechanisms of developing cooperation between Pomorye (Arkhangelsk region) and Azerbaijan.

The forum also featured meetings between representatives of Russian and Azerbaijani companies with the aim of establishing new business contacts.

Furthermore, Arkhangelsk region and Azerbaijan will sign a cooperation agreement. This was agreed by Azerbaijani Economy Minister Shahin Mustafayev and Igor Orlov as they met on the sidelines of the 7th Azerbaijan-Russia interregional forum in Baku.

The agreement will embrace trade, economic, scientific, technical and cultural cooperation between the governments of Arkhangelsk region and Azerbaijan.

Orlov pointed to most promising spheres of mutually profitable cooperation between Azerbaijan and Arkhangelsk region.

Mustafayev said Azerbaijan maintains commercial and economic ties with 78 regions of Russia. “Trade is one of the most important areas of cooperation between Azerbaijan and Russia.”

“Our countries enjoy a free trade regime, which definitely paves the way for mutually fruitful cooperation between entrepreneurs. There are around 600 Russian companies in Azerbaijan,” added Mustafayev.

Shipbuilding, hydrocarbon production, agriculture and tourism are, in Orlov’s opinion, promising areas for mutually profitable partnership.

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