Azernews.Az

By Leman Mammadova

Lithuania is ready to develop closer economic relations with Azerbaijan, Lithuanian President Dalia Grybauskaite said during a meeting with the newly appointed Azerbaijani ambassador Tamerlan Garayev.

During the meeting, the Ambassador presented his credentials to the President of Lithuania, Trend reports referring to the website of the Lithuanian head of state on January 17.

The president and the newly appointed ambassador discussed bilateral relations, economic cooperation, student exchange, as well as prospects for the development of closer ties between Azerbaijan and the European Union.

The president and the newly appointed ambassador discussed bilateral relations, economic cooperation, student exchange, as well as prospects for the development of closer ties between Azerbaijan and the European Union. The Lithuanian head of state noted that Azerbaijan is an important partner of the old continent across many fields of action.

The EU and Azerbaijan are in the process of negotiating a new agreement, which will further expand their bilateral dialogue.

Dalia Grybauskaitė underlined that Lithuania is ready to build up economic contacts with Azerbaijan, especially in information technologies, tourism, food industry, transport, logistics, and other areas.

In 2019, Azerbaijan and Lithuania will celebrate 100 years since the establishment of diplomatic relations - in mid-war period there was a consular section of the Republic of Lithuania in Baku.

The Azerbaijani-Lithuanian Intergovernmental Commission, which has been functioning since 2010, made a considerable contribution to further deepening bilateral relations between the two countries and supported the implementation of many projects in political, economic and humanitarian spheres.

According to the Azerbaijani State Customs Committee, the trade turnover between Azerbaijan and Lithuania amounted to $19.12 million in January-October 2018. At the same time, $1.5 million accounted for the export of Azerbaijani products. The trade turnover between the countries increased by 39 percent compared to the same period of 2017.

In 2017, Azerbaijan’s trade turnover with Lithuania amounted to almost $26.2 million.

Azerbaijan’s direct investments to Lithuania amounted to 1.86 million euros in 2017. The funds were directed to real estate, kettle services, as well as professional and academic activities.

The 5th meeting of the Azerbaijan-Lithuania Intergovernmental Commission on Bilateral Cooperation was held in Vilnius in October 2017. At the end of the meeting, the final protocol of the fifth meeting of the intergovernmental commission was signed, according to which the parties agreed to exchange information on holding exhibitions, conferences and business forums, to encourage the participation of Lithuanian specialized companies as investors in industrial parks created in Azerbaijan, including Sumgait chemical industry the park.

During the meeting, the commission signed an agreement on simplifying the visa regime for holders of service passports, as well as an agreement on the exchange of information and mutual administrative assistance between the Ministry of Taxes of Azerbaijan and the State Tax Inspectorate of Lithuania.

The last three years have been productive in the development of relations between the regions of two countries. In 2014, the Protocol of Intentions "On the Establishment of Twin Relations" was signed between Azerbaijani Shamkir and Lithuanian Šiauliai, which became a new stage in bilateral relations. In this regard, further possibilities of cooperation between the Lithuanian city of Druskininkai, which has recreation centers and medical resorts, and the well-known medical centers of Azerbaijan - Naftalan city and the Duzdag complex in Nakhchivan, should be particularly noted.

Lithuania anticipates that with the conclusion of the negotiations on the Common Aviation Area Agreement between the EU and Azerbaijan more itineraries emerge and we will witness an increase in the number of Lithuanian tourists visiting Azerbaijan and vice versa.

Heydar Aliyev International Airport in Baku, Azerbaijan and Vilnius International Airport in Lithuania may arrange transfer passenger flow. As per last year passenger flow statistics, there were around 5,510 passengers travelling between Lithuania and Azerbaijan, mainly on Vilnius International Airport – Heydar Aliyev International Airport route.

Lithuania is interested in cooperation with Azerbaijan particularly in transport. Being on the EU border with CEE and the CIS, Lithuania delivers access to huge potential markets. Moreover, with the EU’s most Northerly Ice Free Port in Klaipėda this access becomes truly global.

Lithuanian side considers that Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway will strengthen cooperation in transport sphere between Azerbaijan and Lithuania.

Lithuania is currently implementing the Viking project. It is a joint project of Lithuania, Belarus and Ukraine railways, connecting Baltic and Black sea ports. Additional cargo flows can be attracted by adding Azerbaijan and Georgia to this train route. Therefore, in May 2016, Azerbaijan has signed a protocol on Azerbaijan Railways CJSC's joining the Viking train project. Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway line will be very useful to strengthen cooperation between two countries in transport field.

Exchange of experience between Lithuania’s Klaipeda Seaport and Azerbaijan’s Baku Sea Trade Port would also be beneficial for both parties.

Earlier, Lithuanian Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs Darius Skusevičius stated that the information technology, transport and logistics, furniture, electronic equipment, medicine and food industries could be the most potential to expand bilateral cooperation between Lithuania and Azerbaijan.

He noted Lithuania attaches great importance to the EU Eastern Partnership initiative and are interested in Azerbaijan’s active participation in implementing its ambitious work plan, 20 Deliverables for 2020.

Lithuania could be a gateway to the EU for Azerbaijan producers, offering attractive conditions for investing in free trade zones, engineering, industrial equipment, automotive, electronics, biotech, clean-tech, ICT, R&D, transportation sectors.

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