BAKU, Azerbaijan, Jan. 10
By Nazrin Israfilova - Trend:
Azerbaijan exports over 90 percent of fruits and vegetables to the Russian market, so it is the main strategic market for Azerbaijan, Chairman of the Azerbaijani Fruit and Vegetable Producers and Exporters Association Bashir Guliyev told Trend.
Guliyev said that one of the main spheres of activity of the association is to establish contacts between business and state agencies that influence this business, participate in different stages of supply, production and delivery.
The chairman also said that he is a member of the supervisory board under the Azerbaijan Food Safety Agency, which issues phytosanitary certificates for the export of domestic products abroad.
“The Azerbaijan Food Safety Agency closely cooperates with the Russian Federal Service for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Surveillance, which issues permits for the import of fruits and vegetables to Russia,” Guliyev added.
The chairman added that the Food Safety Agency carries out primary phytosanitary control at the production sites upon the agreement with the Russian Federal Service for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Surveillance.
“The Food Safety Agency checks production areas, greenhouses, gardens, fields during the period of growth,” Guliyev said. “Before shipment, the quality of finished products is tested upon several stages, which guarantees the quality of agricultural products for the Russian partners.”
The chairman said that there are mechanisms and regulatory rules that are based on the Azerbaijani legislation and they sometimes do not coincide with the requirements of the business or the market.
“For example, all producers of fruits and vegetables would like their products to be supplied to the markets and the consumers as soon as possible,” Guliyev said.
The chairman added that the fresher the products are, the more valuable and attractive they are for the customers.
“On the other hand, it is important for the regulator to know that the quality of these products has been tested,” Guliyev added.
“Our function is to find this balance between the requirements of business and regulatory structures,” Guliyev said. “We, as an association, enter into negotiations, explain the entire chain of delivery, production, find a common language to protect the interests of businessmen, producers and exporters.”
“We also take timely measures for everything to comply with the rules, regulations and laws of both Azerbaijan and the country to which the products are exported,” the chairman said.
Guliyev also stressed that the association closely cooperates with the Ministry of Agriculture and the Ministry of Economy on the issues related to the support for the export.
“The association also maintains contacts with the Azerbaijan Export and Investment Promotion Foundation (AZPROMO),” the chairman said. “It supports export, holds exhibitions, meetings with representatives of the countries to which Azerbaijani products can be exported.”
“On the other hand, we also hold talks with all manufacturers and exporters on logistics issues,” Guliyev said. “The interests of producers and exporters have been fully protected.”
The Azerbaijani Fruit and Vegetable Producers and Exporters Association were established on September 16, 2016, to coordinate the activity of businessmen involved in the production and export of fruits and vegetables, expand cooperation between them, increase production and expand the country's export volume.