AZERBAIJAN’S AGRICULTURE MINISTER MEETS WITH TURKISH COUNTERPART

Azerbaijan’s Agriculture Minister Ismet Abasov met on Friday with Turkish Minister for Agriculture and Rural Affairs Mehmet Mehdi Eker and his accompanying delegation.

Abasov briefed his Turkish counterpart on the agrarian reforms carried out in the country and documents to develop agrarian sector signed by President Ilham Aliyev. He said agricultural production rise 5-10% yearly in the country. Azerbaijan has posted a 4.5% rise in the agricultural production over the past eleven months of this year.

Abasov noted Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan MEP, Baku-Tbilisi-Erzerum gas pipeline and Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway projects are the evidence of intensive economic cooperation between the two fraternal countries. According to him, commission on scientific-technical, economic cooperation has convened four meetings since 1995; two countries signed an agreement on veterinary cooperation; phytosanitary deal was signed by the Agriculture Ministry of Azerbaijan and submitted to the respective Turkish Ministry

Abasov said there is seed farming in Khachmaz region co-funded by the Turkish International Cooperation & Development Agency. He stressed the importance of strengthening relations between the agriculture ministries of both countries.

Eker said he will spare no efforts to effectively develop agricultural relations. According to him, trade turnover in the agrarian sector falls short of expectations while there are good opportunities to expand relationships.

Mehmet Mehdi Eker proposed to hold the fifth meeting of the commission on scientific-technical, economic cooperation in Ankara. Ismet Abasov accepted this proposal with satisfaction.

Turkish ambassador to Azerbaijan Huseyn Avni Karslyoglu was present at the meeting.

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Following the meeting, Turkish Minister visited the Milk Pro company.