Baku, Azerbaijan, Oct. 20
By Anvar Mammadov – Trend:
Increasing number of tourists from the UAE in Azerbaijan may lead to improvement of business relations between the two countries, Head of Azerbaijan Export and Investment Promotion Foundation (AZPROMO) Rufat Mammadov said.
He made the remarks Oct. 20 at Azerbaijan-UAE business forum.
“This year we witnessed a large influx of tourists from Arab countries,” Mammadov said. “A significant increase in the number of tourists from the UAE especially pleases us. I believe that this growth will improve business relations between our countries.”
“Very often those who come to Azerbaijan as tourists think about starting a business here, as all conditions for it, as well as favorable business environment, have been created in the country,” Mammadov noted.
“I would like Arab tourists to also think about it and consider Azerbaijan not only as a market for selling their products, but also as a platform for long-term activities,” he added.
The trade turnover between Azerbaijan and the UAE amounted to $57.82 million as of Jan.-Sept.2016, which is 23.8 percent more than in the same period of 2015, according to the State Customs Committee of Azerbaijan.
As many as 223 companies from the UAE operate in Azerbaijan, and the volume of direct investments by the UAE in the non-oil sector of Azerbaijan's economy is approximately $659 million.