Azernews.Az

Ukraine’s outgoing ambassador in Baku has praised his country’s trade with Azerbaijan, saying it quadrupled in the first two months of 2010 to nearly $262 million.
"Trade between Ukraine and Azerbaijan made up $261.6 million in January-February, which means a four-fold increase from the same period a year before," Boris Klimchuk told a press conference.
The ambassador said the volume of exports from Azerbaijan to Ukraine amounted to $180 million in the first two months of the year.
"This is 22 times more than what we had in January-February 2009," noted Klimchuk, adding that Azeri Light crude has dominated Azerbaijan’s exports to Ukraine.
Klimchuk praised the activity of Azerbaijan’s state oil firm, SOCAR, in Ukraine. "SOCAR has successfully integrated into Ukraine’s economy, and the company has a network of gas stations there."
Klimchuk also hailed the two countries` transport cooperation.
"Ukrainian firm Bogdan launched a line of new buses and the Azerbaijani transport ministry has already approved their delivery to Azerbaijan. I believe these buses will be competitive both in terms of the quality and price."
Klimchuk, who is ending his diplomatic mission in Baku, will take on the post of governor of Ukraine’s Volynsk region where Bogdan buses are produced.
The ambassador vowed he would make "every effort to move the project forward" after he assumes his new position.
"I initiated a large number of projects while working in Baku as Ukraine’s ambassador. But, unfortunately, most of them still remain unfinished. In my new position as the governor of Volynsk I will deal with what is still outstanding."
Klimchuk said that in September he would pay a visit to Ganja, Azerbaijan’s second largest city, in his new capacity.
"I will lead a large delegation to Ganja in a bid to establish business relations," the ambassador added.*