Azernews.Az

By Aynur Jafarova

A meeting at high-level between officials of Azerbaijan and Serbia will take place next month in Belgrade.

Serbian Ambassador to Azerbaijan Zoran Vajovic confirmed, adding that the two sides will discuss the opportunities to develop cooperation in the economic field.

"We are right now working on the agenda of the intergovernmental commission meeting to be held on March 3-5," the diplomat said.

The intergovernmental commission is co-headed by Azerbaijani Economy and Industry Minister Shahin Mustafayev and Serbian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign and Internal Trade and Telecommunications Rasim Lyaich.

"We expect concrete negotiations among representatives of various ministries and departments of the two countries," the ambassador said. "The Serbian side is primarily interested in investment projects."

Vajovic went on to note that the development of economic cooperation, promotion of joint infrastructural projects, investment projects, increase of turnover between the countries and the participation of Serbian companies in different projects in Azerbaijan are among the main topics to be discussed during the meeting.

"As you know, a construction boom in Baku is expected before the European Olympic Games: Baku 2015. Marvelous projects are being implemented, stadiums and other sports complexes are being constructed," Vajovic noted.

The diplomat emphasized that his country attaches great importance for expansion of trade and economic relations with Azerbaijan.

"In 2010, the trade turnover between two countries amounted to several million euros, but in 2012 and 2013, it increased to 40 million euros, and then it reached 60 million euros including project-construction, engineering, transportation and installation of different equipment and materials, internal and external facilities, equipment for oil and gas industry, and also furniture and construction materials and so on," he said.

Currently, several Azerbaijani companies are working in Serbia.

"Serbia and Azerbaijan are working on construction projects. The biggest project is the construction of the motorway in Serbia in which the Azerbaijani company AzVirt is the general contractor. The projects of the creation of free zones in the cities Chachak and Kraljevo have also been presented to Azerbaijani investors," the ambassador noted.

According to Vajovic, the Serbian side is interested in Azerbaijani investments and tries to attract Azerbaijani partners.

Vajovic believes that the bilateral political relations between Serbia and Azerbaijan are at a very high level.

"Serbia and Azerbaijan are strategic partners. Last year, during the visit of Serbian President Tomislav Nikolich to Azerbaijan, two countries signed a declaration about friendly relations and strategic partnership which creates the legal and political basis for further interactions in all spheres," he said.