Azerbaijan, Baku, 22 April / corr. Trend I. Khalilova/ The government delegation headed by Heydar Babayev, the minister of economic development of Azerbaijan left for Astana to take part in the regular meeting of Azerbaijan-Kazakhstan Inter-Government Commission on Economic Cooperation to be held on 23 April.
Babayev said before his visit that the positions of both countries on bilateral cooperation will be discussed once again in the meeting along with the changes that took place in Kazakhstan.
"There are certain changes in Kazakhstan's economic and manpower policy. We will get acquainted with new chairman of Kazakhstan," minister said.
Sauat Mimbayev, the new minister of energy and mineral resources presides over the commission from Kazakhstan.
Exchange of opinions will be held on transport issues. AZAL will discuss issues concerning flights to Kazakhstan. The problem of Azerbaijani companies connected with paid contracts on purchase of grain from Kazakhstan will be raised. Azerbaijani companies are facing certain problems while transporting grain to Azerbaijan.
Investment possibilities, proposals of Kazakh companies for investing in Azerbaijan and allotting territory in Aktau port for transportation of Azerbaijani goods will be discussed as well.
According to Latif Gandilov, the Ambassador plenipotentiary and extraordinary of Azerbaijan to Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan has developed three different documents to introduce for consideration of Kazakhstan - Memorandum on Cooperation in industry and energy, Memorandum on Cooperation in investments and trade, and Agreement on joint Co-operation.
"The parties will consider these documents in the meeting of inter-government commission and as soon as they are ready, they will present these documents for the consideration of leaders of both countries during their meeting, which will be held during Nursultan Nazarbayev's visit to Azerbaijan," diplomat said.
The date and period of re-payment of Azerbaijan's debt to Kazakhstan worth $16.9mln will be discussed in the meeting of inter-government commission. The principal agreement on re-payment of debt was reached in summer 2007 during the minister of finance Samir Sharifov's visit to Astana.
The trade turnover between Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan totaled $68.243,800, out of which $56.908.900 is from imported Kazakh commodities. The export-import operations between the two countries make up 12.7% of Azerbaijan's trade turnover within the CIS countries.
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