By Trend
Switzerland has made investments worth $851.9 million IN
Azerbaijan for 22 years, Azerbaijani Extraordinary and
Plenipotentiary Ambassador to Switzerland and Liechtenstein Khanim
Ibrahimova said in an interview with the Swiss swissinfo.ch.
Ibrahimova said that the amount of investments from Azerbaijan
to Switzerland reached $1.1 million.
She stressed that 67 Swiss companies are operating in service
sector, trade, construction, industry, transport, banking and
insurance in Azerbaijan.
Speaking about the economic relations between the two countries,
Ibrahimova stressed that a meeting of the joint economic commission
is planned to be held in Bern in early 2019, as well as a business
forum with the participation of entrepreneurs from both
countries.
The countries closely cooperate in the financial sphere, the
ambassador added.
For example, Azerbaijan is a member of the WB and IMF Election
Group, led by Switzerland.
Ibrahimova stressed that as a result of recent success in the
economic sphere, Azerbaijan has turned from a country receiving
investments into an investing country.
"Several years ago, the Azerbaijani state oil company SOCAR
entered the Swiss energy market by purchasing Esso filling stations
owned by Exxon Mobil company in this country," she said, adding
that presently, 172 filling stations under SOCAR brand are
successfully operating in Switzerland thanks to big
investments.
Speaking about the investments of Azerbaijani businessmen in
Switzerland, the ambassador stressed that at the initial stage, the
goal is to supply the products made in Azerbaijan to the Swiss
market.
"Our businessmen must be more active to enter the Swiss market,”
she added.
Ibrahimova added that in 2017 export of non-oil products from
Azerbaijan to Switzerland amounted to $143 million, so Switzerland
is the third biggest importer of non-oil products from Azerbaijan
after Turkey and Russia.
According to the Azerbaijani State Customs Committee, trade
turnover between Azerbaijan and Switzerland amounted to $520.92
million in January-October 2018.
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