Azernews.Az

By Sara Rajabova

Tajikistan is intended to expand the cooperation with Azerbaijan in the economic sphere.

Central Asia’s agricultural country voiced interest in attracting Azerbaijani investments in the mining industry and agriculture.

Zohir Saidov, the Tajik ambassador to Azerbaijan told Trend that his country wants to invite Azerbaijani specialists to work in these sectors of the economy.

“We constantly have an exchange of delegations on economic issues. We had a meeting of the intergovernmental economic cooperation commission in October 2014 and hope to hold a meeting this year as well,” Saidov said.

He added that a Tajik delegation is planned to arrive in Baku late this year.

Saidov noted that Tajikistan actively cooperates with the Azerbaijani company Azeraluminium.

“Aside from that, talks are currently underway with the Azerbaijani company Azersun on investing in construction of large fruit and vegetable processing enterprises in Tajikistan,” he said.

Saidov added further added that there are also Azerbaijani construction companies in Tajikistan engaged in construction and facing of houses.

Stressing that Azerbaijan and Tajikistan actively cooperate in the areas of culture and education, the ambassador said it is planned, in particular, to hold days of Azerbaijani culture in Tajikistan in 2016.

“It is not yet determined in what month the event will take place. The issue is currently being reviewed by the culture ministry,” Saidov said.

Baku’s Nizami Cinema Center hosted on March 10 the opening of the days of Tajik cinema, which will last until March 14.

Azerbaijan and Tajikistan, both post-Soviet republics established diplomatic relations on May 29, 1992.

The two countries' cooperation reached a new level in 2008, when an intergovernmental commission on trade and economic cooperation was launched. It coordinates the realization of economic ties and develops new offers for future cooperation.

Currently, the legal base of Azerbaijan and Tajikistan relations consists of over 30 documents. This legal base paves the way for the strengthening and development of future political, economic, humanitarian banking, as well as investment relations between them.

The trade turnover between Azerbaijan and Tajikistan was around $2.825 million in 2014, according to Azerbaijan’s Customs Committee. The import to Azerbaijan from Tajikistan and the export to this country stood at $187,960 and almost $2.637 million, respectively, according to the committee.

The trade turnover between Azerbaijan and Tajikistan amounted to $11 million in the first half of 2014. Opportunities for further growth remain many and profitable. Tajikistan purchases aluminum oxide, coke and other raw materials from Azerbaijan.

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Sara Rajabova is AzerNews’ staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @SaraRajabova

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