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President Meta: Albania-Azerbaijan Business Forum would strengthen bilateral economic co-op (Exclusive)

Business Materials 5 March 2019 14:23 (UTC +04:00)

Baku, Azerbaijan, March 5

By Leman Zeynalova – Trend:

Albania-Azerbaijan Business Forum would strengthen bilateral economic cooperation, Albanian President Ilir Meta said in an exclusive interview with Trend.

“I am confident that an Albanian-Azerbaijan Business Forum in Tirana or here in Baku, with the presence of our business representatives in priority areas such as energy, infrastructure, tourism and manufacturing, would serve the recognition of both countries and the strengthening of economic co-operation through projects and concrete investments,” he said, talking about the ways of strengthening of the two countries economic ties.

He noted that relations between Albania and Azerbaijan are very good in all aspects.

“Undoubtedly, the potentials of bilateral but also multilateral cooperation are really huge and still not enough explored. I think that the potentials are really very big,” said Meta.

He noted that at present, the key dimension in bilateral economic relations is considered to be cooperation in the energy sector.

“We have a very good and close cooperation in the framework of the TAP project (Trans Adriatic Pipeline), which has an extraordinary impact on energy field and which supplies alternatively with gas the South of Europe.

Of course, besides the energy field, I am sure that economic cooperation can be extended to other areas such as tourism, where Albania is one of the most attractive countries in the Balkans, but also other areas of mutual interest. Alongside with energy and tourism, we are looking forward to investing in the road infrastructure, airport, harbors or rail infrastructure,” said the Albanian president.

Another important sector contributing over 20 percent to the GDP of the country is agriculture, which has an export potential, especially in the agro-industry sector, according to Meta.

“Having one of the youngest population in the Europe and well-educated young people, the financial services sector and ICT have a dynamic development and with even greater potential to attract foreign investors.

Industrial sector also is quite attractive, especially in the framework of the Free Economic Zones and Industrial Zones, considering Albania's favorable geographic position as an "entry gateway" to the EU market,” he added.

There is a need for intensifying of bilateral contacts, and not just at political or diplomatic level, but above all between the business communities of both sides, in order to better explore the opportunities for mutual investment, which then would quickly affect the increase of the trade volume between us, noted President Meta.

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