Interview with Peter Rutkovskiy, the Polish Deputy Minister for Economic Affairs and Labor
Question: What is the key objective of your visit to Azerbaijan and do you plan to sign any agreement?
Answer: The key objective of the visit of Polish delegation to Azerbaijan is to intensify the mutual interrelationships between the government and entrepreneurs of Poland and Azerbaijan. During the visit we plan to conclude concrete agreements or contracts, while appropriate work will be done in this direction. In mid November the Polish companies plan to sign agreements on cooperation in the oil and gas sector in Azerbaijan. The meetings held at the Ministry of Economic Development, the Ministry of Industry and Energy, the head of the State Oil Company of Azerbaijan and Vice Premier Abid Sharifov will enable us to submit proposals on cooperation in the level of both governments and companies.
Question: The Polish company POGC held talks with the SOCAR on opportunities of obtaining an operatorship in one of the onshore Azerbaijani fields, while no concrete agreement has been signed finally. Does the Polish side have interests in this direction?
Answer: The Vice President of the National Oil and Gas Company (the Polish Oil and Gas Industry), as well as the President of the company on exploitation of the oil pipelines will also participate in the meetings scheduled for today [1 October]. We hope the talks will be continuation of the previous ones and a bold step forward in this sphere. We accepted with deep interest a proposal by the Azerbaijani side on the participation in re-cultivation of oil fields. Indeed, it requires the consideration of more concrete details. Concrete companies with definite interests in it will be involved in this work.
Question: Does Poland consider the opportunities for concluding long-term contracts with Azerbaijan on oil supply with further refinery at the own oil refinery plants?
Answer: It is certainly possible. For instance, Orlen and Lotos could act as partners in this respect. At present the companies are in search of a market for diversification of oil deliveries to Poland. The more important is that the markets should be economically reasonable.
Question: Which spheres of economy are interesting for Poland for the potential investing?
Answer: Azerbaijani market is very attractive for Poland. We want to upgrade cooperation in the sphere of food industry, delivery of home appliances, as well as construction-assembly field. Here it is dealt with direct construction, further supply of ready-made apartments with different equipment. Along with it, one of the proposals, which we presented to the Azerbaijani side during the meeting at the Ministry of Economic Development, envisage delivery of equipment for narrowing the gauges. The proposals were met with interest in Azerbaijan. The devices could be used in the border between Azerbaijan and Iran, while they are exploited in the border between Poland and Lithuania, Poland and Ukraine. At present they are tested in the birder between Belorus and Russia. We are interested in the development of projects for the improvement of goods transportation to Azerbaijan. It comes as the most significant issue, as it could promote the joint cooperation.
Question: What are Poland’s forecasts on the trade balance of the two countries in 2006?
Answer: For the rime being the trade balance between Azerbaijan and Poland is black. It is very important from the aspect of Poland, as we hold the same balance with many countries. We expect the trade balance to attain $60-70m next year.