On 17 January, the Agriculture Minister of Azerbaijan, Ismat Abbasov, left for Germany on a working visit, Trend reports quoting the Ministry of Agriculture.
The main aim of the visit is to participate in the International Green Week Berlin 2007 Exhibition which will take place from 19-28 January. On 19 January, a joint statement will be signed with Germany on the modernization of the sanitarian system and phyto-sanitarian control in Azerbaijan, as part of Azerbaijan's entrance into the World Trade Organization. The document will be signed by Abbasov and the State-Secretary of German Ministry of Foodstuffs, Agriculture & Protection of Consumers' Rights, Gert Lindemann.
Abbasov is expected to meet with his colleagues from Germany, Ukraine and Russia to discuss the expansion of the co-operation.
On 20 January, the Azerbaijani Minister will participate in the forum Agriculture and bio-energy within the exhibition and report on the situation of the agrarian sector in Azerbaijan, its prospects and developmental direction. The Minister's visit will conclude on 21 January.
This year, the official opening ceremony will be attended by the Chancellor of Germany, Angela Merkel, Head of the EU Commission, JosРµ Manuel Barroso, Mayor of Berlin, Klaus Wowereit, Federal Minister of Agriculture, Horst Seehofer and other senior officials.