Azerbaijan supplies large volume of agricultural products to Russia

Baku, Azerbaijan, Oct. 2

By Azad Hasanli - Trend:

Azerbaijan supplies sufficiently large volumes of agricultural products, fruits, vegetables and meat to the Russian market, Chairperson of the Russian Council of the Federation (upper house of the parliament) Valentina Matviyenko told reporters in Baku Oct. 2.

She said that today there is additional necessity and opportunities for supplying agricultural products, adding that relevant agreements have already been achieved.

"This will increase and expand our trade relations," she said.

"Specific contracts on increasing the supply of agricultural products were signed during Moscow mayor Sergei Sobyanin's visit to Baku," she said, adding that the agreements on the creation of supply logistics, transportation delivery were reached.

"A project on increasing agricultural supplies and its efficient delivery to the consumers is being thoroughly discussed," she said. "I am sure that these volumes will increase. Moreover, Azerbaijan itself has shown interest in increasing agricultural supplies to Russia."

Matviyenko said that Azerbaijan obtained an additional opportunity to sell products, create new jobs, increase tax revenues and support agricultural producers working in the country.

The Western countries have repeatedly imposed sanctions against a number of Russian politicians, businessmen and companies since March, amid accusations of Moscow interfering in Ukraine's affairs.

Russia, denying the accusations, issued a one-year ban on import of agricultural goods, raw materials and food produced in the U.S., the EU, Canada, Australia an Norway.

Azerbaijan is among the countries through which Russia plans to compensate for the supplies of these products.

The Azerbaijan-Russia trade turnover amounted to $1.219 billion in January-August 2014. Azerbaijan imported Russian products worth $791.168 million, while exports to Russia reached $428.56 million, the Azerbaijani State Customs Committee said.