Azernews.Az

By Nazrin Gadimova

Russia increased its imports of cotton from Azerbaijan by almost 20 percent in 2013, Russian Minister of Regional Development Igor Slyunyaev told local media.

"The main part of import from Azerbaijan include food products, mineral products, machinery and equipment, oil and oil refinery products, as well as metals and products made from them," the minister said.

As to imports of vegetables, fruit, citrus, olives and their processing products, on the contrary, there is a decline of 40 percent, Slyunayev added.

"Taking into account the great interest of our regions in the development of cooperation with Azerbaijan in the agricultural sector, we hope that the situation will change for the better by the end of 2014," Slyunyaev said, adding that in his opinion, Azerbaijan's accession into the Eurasian Economic Union (EAU) or Customs Union is a promising prospect, and he would "not rule out such development of the events".

The trade turnover between the two countries amounted to $755.45 million in January-May, according to the State Customs Committee of Azerbaijan. At the same time, the country imported Russian products worth $512.83 million. The export volume to Russia stood at $242.62 million.