MINSK, 6 June (BelTA) – Belarus and Azerbaijan have reserves for trade growth. Deputy Prime Minister of Azerbaijan Ali Ahmadov made the statement at a session of the Belarus-Azerbaijan intergovernmental commission on trade and economic cooperation, BelTA has learned.
Ali Ahmadov said: “During a narrow-format meeting Igor Viktorovich [Petrishenko, Deputy Prime Minister of Belarus] and I thoroughly discussed all the items on the agenda. We agreed to step up joint efforts to implement instructions of the heads of state.”
He stressed that the active political dialogue between presidents of the two countries ensures stable dynamics across the entire spectrum of mutually beneficial cooperation. “Our countries have managed to streamline a constructive dialogue, create the legal base that covers nearly all the segments of interstate relations. Mutual visits and meetings at the top level and the high level as well as agreements that have been reached and documents that have been signed play the key role in advancing mutually beneficial cooperation. The state visit of the Belarus president to Azerbaijan in May was another testimony to that. The visit had a packed agenda and was fruitful. The presidents confirmed the mutual intention to further reinforce interaction between the two countries across the board. A solid package of documents meant to advance bilateral cooperation in such fields as customs affairs, veterinary science, tourism, and other ones was signed. We expect this visit to give a good impulse to stepping up the interaction of our countries,” the deputy prime minister noted.
He also reminded that Prime Minister of Azerbaijan Ali Asadov has visited Belarus this week. “All of it testifies to the high dynamics of our interaction and political dialogue,” Ali Ahmadov stressed.
In his words, taking into account recent instructions of the heads of state the roadmap designed to guide Belarus-Azerbaijan cooperation had been updated and reworked. Priority attention is given to the development of trade and economic interaction. According to the deputy prime minister, reserves are available for increasing Belarus-Azerbaijan trade turnover. The presidents have given instructions to further expand the product range and the volume of mutual deliveries of goods. The development of investment cooperation is another important avenue.
A Belarusian-Azerbaijani business forum is expected to take place in Minsk tomorrow. Ali Ahmadov remarked that the forum would become an important platform where business circles would be able to get familiar with the investment and export opportunities in both countries. The deputy prime minister spoke at length about manufacturing cooperation. A number of products of the Belarusian mechanical engineering industry are made in Azerbaijan. The parties are discussing the expansion of this product range. There are plans to achieve a higher level of interaction.
Close attention is paid to cooperation in agribusiness. A complex program on cooperation in this field till 2025 is in effect. “There are plans to extend this program. We see good prospects for expanding the product range and increasing the volume of mutual deliveries of agribusiness products. There are good reserves. We will use these opportunities,” the deputy prime minister stressed. By the way, the Azerbaijani delegation intends to visit the Belagro expo.
