Warsaw, Poland, April 2
By Seba Agayeva - Trend:
Poland plans to create direct transport connection with the Persian Gulf countries via Azerbaijan.
"Azerbaijan is conducting a large-scale construction works today: the infrastructure is being created, and railways and metro are being built. We hope that the railways of Azerbaijan and Iran will connect. As a result Poland will be able to establish transport connection with the Gulf countries via Azerbaijan," according to Janusz Piechocinski, Polish deputy prime minister and minister of economy.
Piechocinski made these remarks at a meeting with Azerbaijani journalists in Warsaw.
"We are considering cooperation with Azerbaijan given the new formation of transport corridors after the global financial and economic crisis," he added.
Piechocinski also stressed that Polish and Azerbaijani governments held talks regarding the connection of the railways of Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan and Ukraine with the European ones in the future.
"European and Asian railways have a great future. Therefore, we must use the potential from their collaboration to the maximum extent given Azerbaijan's favourable geographical position. Moreover, in this regard, it is also necessary to take into account the interests of Polish companies, which are interested in entering the Azerbaijani market," Piechocinski said.
As an example, the official mentioned the Polish company 'TINES', which deals with the production of railway infrastructure.
He added that another leading Polish company 'Solaris', a bus manufacturer, is holding talks on supplying 300 buses to Azerbaijan, which can be used during the First European Games to be held in Baku in 2015.
He stressed that one more Polish company 'PESO', which produces wagons and trams, also have special offers for the Azerbaijani market.
"Aside from that, Polish construction firms are ready to start their activities in Azerbaijan," Piechocinski added.
He went to say that other promising areas of cooperation between Azerbaijan and Poland are the wastewater treatment, sewerage, water supply systems, alternative energy, exploration in mining industry, ecology and tourism.
"Polish side also proposed to hold trainings of Azerbaijani mining and transport specialists at Polish universities and enterprises," Piechocinski said.
Polish deputy prime minister went on to say that the agriculture is another promising area for cooperation between Azerbaijan and Poland.
"Azerbaijan's agriculture has great potential for development. I believe that Azerbaijan needs to adopt the Polish experience in organization of associations of agricultural producers," he said.
The deputy prime minister went on to add that Poland is ready to provide full support for Azerbaijan in the accession to the World Trade Organization (WTO).
"We are an ally of Azerbaijan in these talks. We want this [accession to the WTO] to happen as soon as possible," Piechocinski said.
Translated by E.A.
Edited by S.I.