BAKU HOSTS AZERBAIJAN-GERMANY BUSINESS FORUM
The Azerbaijan-Germany Business Forum organized by the German-Azerbaijan Business Association (GABA) and Found for Encouragement of Export and Investments in Azerbaijan (Azpromo) was held at Hyatt Regency hotel in Baku Friday.
Nearly 80 businessmen from Germany and 100 from Azerbaijan represented such sectors as oil and gas, electric and alternative power, construction, healthcare, chemistry, education, trade, finance and air transportation.
Speaking to the meeting were GABA Executive Director Florian Schreder, Chairman of the Board Gunnar Schrefer, German Minister of Economics and Technology Michael Glos, Azerbaijan Minister of Economic Development Heydar Babayev, Minister of Industry and Energy Natig Aliyev, member of the Siemens Managing Board Rudi Lamprecht and president of Azpromo Emil Majidov.
GABA Executive Director Florian Schreder said the meeting will define new directions of the cooperation, that, according to him, will contribute to further expansion of relations between the two countries.
German Minister of Economics and Technology Michael Glos expressed satisfaction with the current state of relations between Azerbaijan and Germany pointing to wide opportunities to deepen the existing cooperation. He also stressed that his country attached a special importance to strengthening ties with Azerbaijan in all fields.
Minister of Economic Development of Azerbaijan Heydar Babayev informed the participants in the meeting on the progress the country has achieved thanks to the socio-economic development strategy initiated by the national leader Heydar Aliyev and now being successfully continued by the President Ilham Aliyev. He said that Azerbaijan leads the world in GDP growth rate and the CIS in per capita investments. The Minister also mentioned the considerably improved investment clime in Azerbaijan noting the country is now cooperating in trade with some 140 countries. He said there was a huge potential for expansion of trade relations between Azerbaijan and Germany noting the Azerbaijan Investment Company will provide every assistance to German companies doing business in Azerbaijan.
Minister of Industry and Energy Natig Aliyev spoke of the projects being implemented in oil and gas sector, noting Azerbaijan’s potential allows the country to export as much as 40-50 billion cubic meters of natural gas in the next 13 years up to 2020. All this paves the way for sustainable development of Azerbaijan, but realization of such projects requires developed infrastructure and new pipelines, he said.
Minister Aliyev also said there was favorable conditions in Azerbaijan to use wind energy, stressed the importance of benefiting from German experience in this field.
After general discussions, the businessmen held bilateral meetings.
Organizational support of the forum was provided by the Azerbaijani minitries of Economic Development, and Industry and Energy.
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