Azerbaijan, Baku, September 23 / Trend , I.Khalilova /
During the visit of the Chairman of the Czech Senate Premysl Sobotka to Baku on September 23 the second the Azerbaijani-Czech business forum will take place, the Ministry of Economic Development of Azerbaijan said on Sept. 23.
First Azerbaijani-Czech business forum was held in July last year during the then Foreign Minister of the Czech Republic Karel Schwarzenberg's visit to Azerbaijan.
"The business forum is expected to bring together about 150 Azerbaijani and Czech business people working in the financial, chemical, construction, engineering, light industry, metal spheres," the Ministry said.
Chairman of Senate's visit takes place prior to opening the embassy of the Czech Republic in Azerbaijan. The embassy is expected to be opened in October.
According to Azerbaijani statistics, during January-July 2009 trade turnover between the countries amounted to $11.59 million. In the Czech Republic mainly are purchased equipment for road construction, metal, chemical products. Azerbaijan's non-oil exports are mainly agricultural products, particularly walnuts.
According to the Czech statistics, the majority of Azerbaijani exports are petroleum products sold by oil traders to the Czech Republic.
According to the Foreign Minister of the Czech Republic Karel Schwarzenberg, who headed the Czech business delegation last year, the Azerbaijani energy resources cover 1/10 of the needs of the Czech Republic. In his view, in addition to business contacts, the forum will allow establishing higher forms of cooperation - realization of investment projects, joint ventures and the cooperation of scientific-research teams.
"Developing trade and economic relations is the foundation of the Czech diplomacy, and the purpose of the visit to Azerbaijan is to strengthen existing contacts and explore opportunities for Czech business," said Schwarzenberg.
He believes that after the Czech Republic joined the EU in 2004, its capacity increased in the export of equipment for the production of building materials, railway and urban transport, engineering and manufacturing industries.
"Czech Republic is interested in establishing not only political, but also economic and trade relations throughout the South Caucasus, Czech minister said. - While the instability of political situation is a negative impact on Europe, it is important to stabilize the situation in the region, possibly through involvement of the economies in a mutually beneficial cooperation with EU countries, including the Czech Republic. "
Do you have feedback? Contact our journalist at: [email protected]