Azernews.Az

By Aynur Jafarova

Azerbaijan has been invited to an international agricultural exhibition which will be held in France in March 2014.

A relevant invitation was extended during Azerbaijani Agriculture Minister Heydar Asadov's meeting with a French delegation led by Andre Villiers, President of the Supreme Council of Yonne department of the Burgundy region of France, as well as Federico Castellucci, Director General of the International Organization of Vine and Wine.

The main purpose of the meeting was to discuss bilateral cooperation between the two countries in the agriculture sector.

Heydar Asadov said the meeting is the first one for him as minister and expressed confidence that cooperation programs between Azerbaijan and France will be further implemented and intensified.

According to Asadov, Azerbaijan is ready for proposals of its French colleagues.

Andre Villiers, in turn, expressed hope that the fruitful cooperation between Azerbaijan and France will continue in the future.

He invited the Azerbaijani minister to participate in the international agricultural exhibition in France.

Federico Castellucci emphasized the great potential of Azerbaijani grape varieties and deemed it purposeful to send French experts to Azerbaijan as well as to hold programs between the two countries in the field of human resources.

The parties voiced confidence that such meetings will be regular and bilateral cooperation will develop further.

On the same day the French delegation was received by Azerbaijani Economy and Industry Minister Shahin Mustafayev.

During the meeting Mustafayev said the political, economic and humanitarian relations between Azerbaijan and France are developing successfully.

According to him, the two countries have great potential to expand bilateral cooperation.

Speakers noted that the opening of the Azerbaijan House in France and the French Lyceum in Azerbaijan will contribute to the expansion of bilateral relations. Efforts of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation in the development of Azerbaijani-French relations were especially stressed at the meeting.

Wine festivals held in France and Azerbaijan play a significant role in the expansion of cooperation between the business circles of the two countries.

Mustafayev reminded that Ganja, Azerbaijan's second largest city, will soon host a wine festival and said the interest in such events is growing.

According to him, holding exhibitions, presentations and business forums will play a positive role in the development of relations between the two countries.

The minister also underlined the importance of increasing the range of products in mutual trade.

Mustafayev also said that Azerbaijan is a reliable partner, economic and cultural center of the region, and the country has provided political and macroeconomic stability and favorable conditions for investors.

The French delegation noted that the economic relations between the two countries are developing and expanding particularly in the agriculture sector and expressed hope that the economic ties will further continue to develop.

The trade turnover between Azerbaijan and France amounted to about $2 billion in 2012. The legal framework of bilateral cooperation includes 40 documents. Some 40 French companies operate in the South Caucasus country.