Following the invitation of Egyptian Minister of Petroleum Samih Fahmi, Minister of Industry and Energy of Azerbaijan Natig Aliyev paid a visit to Alexandria and Cairo on 14-17 December, according to the Azerbaijani embassy in Egypt.
Representatives of the state oil company of Azerbaijan and the rector of the Azerbaijani Oil Academy Siyavush Garayev accompanied Natig Aliyev during his visit.
During the visit Natig Aliyev met with the Prime Minister of Egypt Ahmed Nazif and Minister of Petroleum Samih Fahmi. Natig Aliyev got acquainted with the technical capabilities of companies producing petrochemical products, including firms based in Alexandria such as "MİDOR-Middle East Oil Refinery", "SUMED-Arab Petrolium Co", "Enppi-Engineering for the petroleum and Process İndustries" and "Petrojet", which are engaged in receiving, processing and transportation of oil and gas. He listened to presentations prepared by experts from these firms.
During a meeting with Prime Minister Ahmed Nazif Natig Aliyev spoke about the historical and friendly relations between the Egyptian and Azerbaijani peoples and recalled the visit of national leader Heydar Aliyev in Cairo in 1994 and stressed the importance of this visit to deepen bilateral relations.
Natig Aliyev also recalled the visit of Ilham Aliyev in Egypt in May 2007 and his meeting with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, and that both the president paid a major role improving bilateral relations and the development of new areas of cooperation. Taking into account the economic potential of both countries, there are opportunities for further growth of trade turnover between the two countries, he added.
Prime Minister of Egypt during his speech, stressed the special interest of his country in the further development of relations with Azerbaijan. Ahmed Nazif said that as a result of political will of both presidents now there are all opportunities for the development of bilateral relations, including in the export and processing of oil and gas.
Natig Aliyev told Prime Minister of Egypt about the economic achievements of Azerbaijan and briefed him in detail about the economic reforms carried out in Azerbaijan.
Egyptian Minister of Petroleum Fahmi recalling fruitful meetings during his visit in July this year in Azerbaijan stressed that cooperation in the sale and processing of oil between Azerbaijan and Egypt is developing with the dynamic pace.
Natig Aliyev said that he is well acquainted with the infrastructure of oil and gas, and said that the technical capabilities of offices, which process and transport oil and gas left him deeply impressed. He also brought to the attention of the Minister of Petroleum of Egypt, that by using the infrastructure of the seaports of Egypt in the Mediterranean and Red seas, Azerbaijani oil can be brought in greater volumes to the markets of southeast Asia.
Natig Aliyev invited the Minister of Petroleum of Egypt in Azerbaijan.
At the end of the visit with the participation of Minister of Industry and Energy Natig Aliyev and Egyptian Minister of Petroleum Samih Fahmi, between the Azerbaijan State Oil Academy and OGS-Egyptian Oil and Gas Skills Company functioning within the Ministry of Petroleum of Egypt signed a Memorandum of Understanding cooperation in training and exchange programs.
Natig Aliyev and Samih Fahmi held a press conference concerning the results of the visit