Agricultural co-op in focus of Azerbaijan-France talks

By Nazrin Gadimova

Azerbaijan and France have discussed ways of developing agricultural cooperation as Agriculture Minister Heydar Asadov met French Minister for Food Industry Guillaume Garot, AzerTag state news agency reported.

Asadov said France was one of the major European countries manufacturing high quality food products, noting that Azerbaijan attached great importance to developing relations with France.

The minister noted favorable conditions had been ensured in Azerbaijan for foreign investors.

Asadov proposed signing a memorandum of understanding between Azerbaijan`s Ministry of Agriculture and French Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Forestry.

The Azerbaijani side also proposed studying the opportunities for French Agrimer company`s providing assistance to Azerbaijani agricultural businesses.

Garot, in turn, noted the possibility of exchanging experience in the field of food industry on the level of companies.

The French Minister made some proposals concerning cooperation in a variety of areas, in particular cattle-breeding. Garot invited the Azerbaijani Minister to pay a visit to France.

Earlier, Guillaume Garot met with Azerbaijan`s Economy and Industry Minister Shahin Mustafayev to discuss current state of and prospects for economic cooperation.

The two sides hailed French companies` activities in Azerbaijan. They stressed the importance of wine festivals in France and Azerbaijan in terms of expanding cooperation between the two countries` businessmen.

The French side invited Azerbaijani businessmen to attend an agricultural exhibition in France in February, 2014.