Egypt interested in Azerbaijani investment: envoy (UPDATE)
By Aynur Jafarova
Egypt is interested in Azerbaijan's investments, Azerbaijani Ambassador to Egypt Shahin Abdullayev told Baku-based Trend news agency on October 23.
"The government of Egypt is taking interest in Azerbaijani investments for restoration of the country's economy. This interest has been repeatedly expressed by government officials during meetings," Abdullayev said.
According to him, the Egyptian government is considering the possibilities of attracting Azerbaijani investments in such fields as economy, infrastructure and agriculture.
"The Azerbaijani side is also interested in investing in Egypt. However, it is necessary to obtain assurances from the Egyptian authorities about the safety of these investments, as well as ensure the safety of representatives of Azerbaijani companies which will operate in Egypt in the future," the diplomat said.
According to Abdullayev, a regular meeting of the intergovernmental commission on economic cooperation is planned at the beginning of next year and all aspects of future cooperation will be discussed during the meeting," Abdullayev said.
Egypt recognized Azerbaijan's independence in December 1991 and the diplomatic relations between the two countries were established in March 1992. In 2012, the trade turnover between the two countries amounted to over $31 million.
Abdullayev also said that the Azerbaijani embassy in Egypt has fully resumed its activity. All diplomats who had previously left over the worsening situation in the country returned to Cairo.
He said that following the events that occurred in the country, he and one more diplomat worked at the Azerbaijani diplomatic mission.
The remaining diplomats and their families were evacuated from Egypt in late August after the situation deteriorated in the country.
Abdullayev said that some Azerbaijani citizens who worked and studied in the country before those events returned with the diplomats to Egypt.
"It is relatively quiet in Egypt now. But one cannot say that the situation has completely stabilized," Abdullayev said.