Azernews.Az

By Nazrin Gadimova

Azerbaijan-Germany cooperation is developing successfully year after year, the Department Head of Azerbaijan's Economy and Industry Ministry said.

Samir Valiyev made the remarks at a conference titled "Preparing Managerial Staff in the Field of Business: Azerbaijani-German Cooperation", held in Baku on November 1.

"Today's conference is an example of our cooperation's success," Valiyev said. "It is multifaceted and covers trade, finance, investment, training, and other areas."

Valiyev said that Azerbaijan's Economic Development Ministry and the German Agency for International Cooperation GIZ signed a memorandum of cooperation in 2009, under which joint Azerbaijani-German program on improving skills of managerial staff in the field of business was implemented.

The program had been successfully implemented and was in great demand among the Azerbaijani entrepreneurs, Valiyev said.

"In the five years of the program's implementation, it was used by 173 persons. Considering the high interest in this program, it was decided to extend it for another three years in February 2013," Valiyev said.

He said that one of the policy priorities of Azerbaijan's leadership was the development of business and investment in the country.

"From this point of view, the importance and value of a joint program to improve the skills of managers is further enhanced. I am confident that this program will contribute to the further development and strengthening of cooperation between Azerbaijan and Germany" he added.

The conference, organized by the Baku Business Training Centre with the support of Azerbaijan's Economy and Industry Ministry, was also attended by the representatives of the German Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology, Azerbaijan's National Confederation of Entrepreneurs (Employers), German Embassy in Azerbaijan, representatives of the GIZ, and entrepreneurs and managers who participated in the training program in 2009-2013.

Earlier, an event titled "Prospects of Economic Policy: Possibilities and Challenges" was held by Azerbaijan's Embassy in German in collaboration with the German Christian Democratic Union's Economic Council.

The diplomatic relations between Azerbaijan and Germany were established in February 1992. The Azerbaijani-German trade turnover amounted to $1.744 billion in 2012. In the first half of 2013, the figure was $1.066 billion.

There are over 100 German companies in Azerbaijan. German companies have also acted as contractors under 10 investment projects worth more than 460 million euros.