A delegation of the Chamber of Industry of the North Cyprus arrived in Baku last weekend (16 April. The head of the Representation of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus in Azerbaijan, Mustafa Evran, told Trend the Chamber of Industry of the North Cyprus was announced by the Union of Azerbaijan and Turkish entrepreneurs (ATIB) as the NGO of Year. An awarding ceremony will be held in mid April.
During the visit the bilateral contacts between the representatives of the business circles of Azerbaijan and Northern Cyprus.
Speaking on the current level of economic cooperation between the North Cyprus and Azerbaijan, Evran reminded on serious of visits of the Azerbaijani businessmen to the North Cyprus in summer of 2005. One of them was paid immediately after the visit of the Turkish Prime Minister Rejep Tayyub Erdogan to Azerbaijan late June 2005, a 45-member-delegation of Azerbaijani businessmen visited the Northern Cyprus from 27 to 31 July.
During the visit to Azerbaijan last August a delegation of businessmen of the Northern Cyprus, including the ex-President Rauf Denktash, held talks with their Azerbaijani counterparts. As a result some Azerbaijani companies took interests in investing in the North Cypruss economy, Evran told. One of the Azerbaijani companies voiced their intention for investing $5m in the construction of a hotel in Northern Cyprus and its branch there.
This is a process which lasts not a day, Evran said in connection with possible implementation of joint projects between the businessman of Azerbaijan and Northern Cyprus. If businessmen of Azerbaijan and the North Cyprus find definite benefits in the realization of any economic project, they will put every effort for this end, he stressed. The intensification of trade and economic contacts will considerably complicate he transport problem, in particular, the absence of direct air flights between Azerbaijan and the Norte Cyprus.
Evran also touched upon the cooperation between Azerbaijan and Northern Cyprus in the sphere of education and culture. There is close cooperation between our nations in these spheres, the diplomat underlined. Северного the universities of the Northern Cyprus and Azerbaijan, in particular, the Baku State University, Khazar University, the High Diplomatic College have already signed protocols on cooperation. Evran said that currently around 30-40 Azerbaijani students study at universities of the Northern Cyprus. Approximately 10-12 students from the Northern Cyprus are studying at the universities of Azerbaijan, in particular, the University of Arts, the Musical Academy, the Medical University and others. The students from the Northern Cyrus study in Azerbaijan at their own expense.
We offer the Azerbaijani students an opportunity for study in the Northern Cyprus free of charge on the base of their appeal to our representation. But wed like to do it through the Education Ministry, Evran underlined.
Concerning the contacts in the culture sphere, Evran announced on the forthcoming annual international childish festival due in the Northern Cyprus on 23 April 2006. Azerbaijani dance will also be in attendance.