Baku, Azerbaijan, July 4
By Seba Aghayeva – Trend:
Azerbaijan and Austria will consider the prospects for the development of economic cooperation during the next meeting of the intergovernmental commission on trade, economic, scientific and technical cooperation to be held in Vienna in early October, Azerbaijani ambassador to Austria Galib Israfilov told Trend July 4.
"The economic relations between the two countries are regulated by the intergovernmental commission on trade, economic, scientific and technical cooperation,” the diplomat said. “The meeting is held every two years. The recent meeting of the commission was held in Baku in 2015.”
“Another meeting is planned to be organized this year,” he said. “Minister of Transport, Communications and High Technologies Ramin Guluzade heads the commission from the Azerbaijani side, while Austrian Deputy Minister of Science, Research and Economy for Foreign Economic Policy and European Integration Bernadette Marianne Gierlinger heads the commission from the Austrian side," the diplomat said.
“According to the practice, the government delegations are accompanied by representatives of business circles who meet with colleagues, which is also expected in Vienna in early October,” Israfilov said.
“Azerbaijan is Austria's most important partner in the South Caucasus,” he said. “Opening of the Austrian embassy in Baku in 2010 testifies to it.”
Israfilov added that at present, around 40 bilateral documents have been signed between the two countries in various spheres, such as economy, education, culture, science, agriculture, etc.
"Austria is a member of the European Union and many bilateral documents between Azerbaijan and Austria coincide with the documents that are agreed between Azerbaijan and the EU at bilateral level,” he added. “Of course, first of all, it is necessary to determine the interests of the sides, meet the goals and tasks to sign new documents. At present, there is a solid legal framework with Austria. It is also supplemented by the documents on cooperation signed between Azerbaijan and the EU."
According to the Azerbaijani State Customs Committee, the trade turnover between Azerbaijan and Austria amounted to $59.9 million in January-May 2017.
The trade turnover between Azerbaijan with Austria ($56.5 million) increased by $3.4 million or 6 percent in January-May 2017 compared to the same period of 2016.