Azernews.Az

By Aynur Jafarova

Europe needs to have in mind Azerbaijan's potential while developing a new policy to ensure security of energy resources' supply.

Addressing journalists in Warsaw on March 31, Polish Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy Janusz Piechociński said: "We are well aware of the efforts Azerbaijan is making to implement the project of constructing a gas pipeline through Turkey [TANAP]. So, under the new policy on security of energy supplying, Europe needs to take into account the potential of Azerbaijan."

"Cooperation with Azerbaijan in the purchase of natural gas, as well as the construction of the gas pipeline is of greatest interest for Poland," the deputy PM noted.

"Southern Gas Corridor project will be implemented as it was planned," he said. "Azerbaijan shares border with Turkmenistan in the Caspian, and the EU and Baku relations should be reviewed considering the interests of Turkmenistan. I want once again to emphasize that we are dependent on the Azerbaijani energy resources. The important question for us is the issue of energy resources processing with the participation of Polish investments in Azerbaijan."

Direct flights from Warsaw to Baku on agenda

Piechociński went on to say that opening direct flights from Warsaw to Baku is on the agenda.

"Unfortunately, the Polish airline - LOT Company - is facing serious difficulties and is in a difficult situation. This has led to a reduction in the number of flights in a number of important directions and suspended the implementation of some long-term plans of the airline. However, the opening of direct flights between Warsaw and Baku is on the agenda," he said.

"The opening of direct air links is important for the development of tourism in both countries," the deputy PM noted.

"I work closely with travel agencies on the opening of charter flights to Baku, as it will enable LOT airline to establish direct flights between Azerbaijan and Poland. The exchange of students, mutual visits of businessmen and tourism will allow the airlines' aircrafts to conduct flights between the two countries twice a week. If the Polish company enters the Azerbaijani market, it will be much easier to establish direct flights between the two countries," Piechociński said.

Poland to create direct transport connection with Persian Gulf states via Azerbaijan

Piechociński also said Poland plans to create direct transport connection with the Persian Gulf countries via Azerbaijan.

"Azerbaijan is conducting a large-scale construction works today: the infrastructure is being created, and railways and metro are being built. We hope that the railways of Azerbaijan and Iran will connect. As a result Poland will be able to establish transport connection with the [Persian] Gulf countries via Azerbaijan," he noted.

Piechociński also said Poland is considering cooperation with Azerbaijan given the new formation of transport corridors after the global financial and economic crisis.

"Polish and Azerbaijani governments held talks regarding the connection of the railways of Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan and Ukraine with the European ones in the future," he added.

"European and Asian railways have a great future. Therefore, we should use the potential from their collaboration to the maximum extent given Azerbaijan's favorable geographical position. Moreover, in this regard, it is also necessary to take into account the interests of Polish companies, which are interested in entering the Azerbaijani market," Piechociński said.

As an example, the official mentioned the Polish company TINES, which deals with the production of railway infrastructure.

He said another leading Polish company Solaris, a bus manufacturer, is holding talks on supplying 300 buses to Azerbaijan, which can be used during the First European Games to be held in Baku in 2015.

Piechociński noted one more Polish company PESO, which produces wagons and trams, also have special offers for the Azerbaijani market.

"Meanwhile, Polish construction firms are ready to start their activities in Azerbaijan," Piechociński added.

He went to say that other promising areas of cooperation between Azerbaijan and Poland are the wastewater treatment, sewerage, water supply systems, alternative energy, exploration in mining industry, ecology and tourism.

"Polish side also proposed to hold trainings of Azerbaijani mining and transport specialists at Polish universities and enterprises," Piechociński said.

Piechociński went on to note that Poland is ready to provide full support for Azerbaijan in the accession to the World Trade Organization (WTO).

"We are an ally of Azerbaijan in these talks. We want this [accession to the WTO] to happen as soon as possible," Piechociński said.

In his remarks Jerzy Drozdz, the director of the Foreign Relations Department of Poland's National Chamber of Commerce, said the agrarian sector, production of food products and other fields can be promising spheres for expanding cooperation between Azerbaijan and Poland.

"We positively assess the cooperation with Azerbaijan, especially between small and medium-sized enterprises and want the Polish entrepreneurs to establish cooperation with their Azerbaijani colleagues. Certain agreements have been reached in the sphere of industrial production and I hope these agreements will be implemented in the near future," Drozdz said.

He went on to say that the Polish entrepreneurs are gradually moving to a new stage of cooperation, namely to the stage of making investments.

Drozdz also noted several Polish companies make investments in Turkey, as well as in a number of countries of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS). These companies also expressed readiness to participate in the Azerbaijani market.

"Azerbaijan is known as the world's oil country, and everything that is connected with the oil industry is also interesting for Polish entrepreneurs," the department director said.

Polish companies can also export high quality construction materials to Azerbaijan, Drozdz added.

"Polish firms have found a way for entering some markets with high quality products at low prices. And Azerbaijan can be another market," the department director said.

These aspects of future cooperation will be a subject of discussion in negotiations during the next meeting of Azerbaijan-Poland intergovernmental commission on economic cooperation to be held in April in Baku, Drozdz stressed.

"A business forum can be organized within the intergovernmental commission. Many Polish companies may be interested in making investments in Azerbaijan, especially in the areas such as ICT, infrastructure, transport, urban infrastructure, agro-industrial sphere and others," he noted.

Drozdz said Poland is also interested in Azerbaijan's experiences in the oil production field.

"Poland has small oil and natural gas fields and Azerbaijan can share its experience in this sphere," the department head said.

Polish company to participate in construction of new lines of Baku Metro

In his remarks Mieczysław Łapanowski said Polish company TINES will participate in the construction of new lines of the Baku Metro.

The company official noted TINES will sign agreement on participation in this project with the Azerbaijani side by the end of the year.

"Talks on the participation of the Polish company were underway in last two years," he added.

In her remarks, Undersecretary of State at the Polish Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development said the Azerbaijani specialists show significant interest in cooperation with Poland in the field of production of agricultural machinery and meat products.

Polish company interested in construction of stadium in Sumgayit

Vice President of Polish company JSK Architekci, Mariusz Rutz said his company has intended to construct a stadium in Azerbaijan's industrial city Sumgayit.

"Work on the stadium project has been completed and preliminary agreement has been reached with Azerbaijan's state energy company SOCAR, which will finance the implementation of the project," he said.

He also noted a Memorandum of Understanding has already been signed with SOCAR.

"We hope that before the end of the year we will be able to begin construction of the stadium," Rutz said.

Poland interested in co-op with Azerbaijan in military, defense fields

In her remarks, head of the Department of International Security Policy of the Polish Defense Ministry Katarzyna Friedrich said Poland is open to further strengthen cooperation with Azerbaijan in the military-technical field.

"We think Azerbaijan is a very important partner and appreciate the country's contribution to international security," she said.

Friedrich said the two countries are pretty close in terms of cooperation in the military- technical sphere, in particular they participate in NATO programs, peacekeeping operations and it has brought them closer together.

"Your country is an important partner of Poland and we would like to develop our relations in this area more dynamic," she noted. "These relations have developed in a sustainable manner, given the situation in the region, which is known to be quite complicated," she said.

She also noted NATO is the main platform for cooperation and alliance partners have practical tools for enhancing cooperation and her country is ready to continue to support Azerbaijan in the training of military personnel.

Also, official representative of the Polish Military University of Technology Wieslaw Grzegorzewski invited the Azerbaijani students to get education at the university.

"Students from EU countries and partners can obtain higher education at the academy of military profile in 11 specialties as a purely military and civilian profile," he said.

The Azerbaijani State Statistics Committee said the trade turnover between Azerbaijan and Poland amounted to $24.19 million in the first six months of 2013.