Official: Azerbaijan,Turkey can jointly enter markets of third countries
By Nigar Abbasova
The 8th meeting of Azerbaijan-Turkey Agricultural Executive Committee was held in Baku on February 22.
Agricultural cooperation between the two countries became the primary topic on agenda of the meeting, which was presided by Azerbaijani Deputy Agriculture Minister Ilham Guliyev and head of the Foreign Relations Department of the Turkey’s Food, Agriculture and Livestock Ministry Ali Recep Nazli.
They discussed cooperation in such fields as plant quarantine, animal husbandry and veterinary, development of rural areas, joint agricultural research, and trade of agricultural production.
Guliyev said that there is great potential for agricultural cooperation between the countries, as well as for entering foreign markets.
“Azerbaijan has access to the markets of Central Asia and Russia, while Turkey has access to the markets of Europe and the Balkans. In this regard, Azerbaijan and Turkey are going to jointly enter markets of the third countries” he said.
The Turkish-Azerbaijani Agrarian Business Forum is scheduled for February 23. The forum is expected to be attended by the Turkish delegation consisting of 200 people.
Azerbaijani Agriculture Minister Heydar Asadov, Head of the Turkey-Azerbaijan Business Council of Turkey’s Foreign Economic Relations Board Selcuk Akat and President of the National Confederation of Entrepreneurs (Employers) Organizations of Azerbaijan Mammad Musayev will also take part in the event. Besides, some 150 entrepreneurs, engaged in various sectors of agriculture, will also take part in the event.
The forum will cover such issues as development of cooperation, establishment of joint ventures, promotion of import and export, and mutual study of experience. The final protocol of the meeting is expected to be signed during the forum.
Turkey’s Minister of Food, Agriculture and Livestock Faruk Celik earlier told Trend that Turkey urges the country’s businessmen to invest in Azerbaijan’s agriculture, mentioning that Turkey wants Azerbaijan to become a country fully self-sufficient in the agricultural production.
Trade turnover between Azerbaijan and Turkey amounted to $1.67 billion in January-September 2016, according to the State Customs Committee of Azerbaijan. The countries plan to bring the volume of trade turnover to the level of $15 billion in the coming years.
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Nigar Abbasova is AzerNews’ staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @nigyar_abbasova
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