Azerbaijan, Baku, March 7 / Trend A.Akhundov /
The next meeting of the intergovernmental commission on trade and economic cooperation between Greece and Azerbaijan is expected in the first half of 2013 in Athens, the First Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Greece Dimitrios Kourkoulas said at a press conference on the outcome of his visit to Azerbaijan.
The last meeting of the intergovernmental commission was held in 2011 in Baku.
According to him, the sides are currently deciding on the date of the meeting of the intergovernmental commission.
The delegation led by Dimitrios Kourkoulas held meetings with the Minister of Industry and Energy Natig Aliyev, Shah Deniz consortium participants, SOCAR president Rovnag Abdullayev, Deputy Minister of Economic Development Niyazi Safarov and Deputy Foreign Minister Mahmud Mammadguliyev. The deputy minister will meet with the Minister of Culture and Tourism Abulfas Garayev on Friday.
According to him, his visit to Azerbaijan was aimed at finding new areas for economic cooperation.
"During the meetings, the Azerbaijani side was informed that the economic crisis witnessed in Greece in last three years is about to end. In 2014, we expect more positive indicators of growth," Kourkoulas said.
According to him, Greece is pleased to see Azerbaijani investments in its economy and welcomes participation of Azerbaijani companies in a broad campaign for privatisation conducted by the Greek government.
According to Kourkoulas, a solid legal framework has been established for the development of economic relations between the two countries, including 20 intergovernmental agreements and in particular, an agreement on the avoidance of double taxation.
"We aim to expand economic ties in the prioritised non-oil sector of Azerbaijan, particularly in the areas of pharmaceuticals, construction, tourism, agriculture and food sector," Kourkoulas said.