POLITICS
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT MINISTER MEETS WITH REPRESENTATIVE OF US DEPARTMENT OF STATE
Azerbaijan’s Minister of Economic Development Heydar Babayev met Thursday with Frank Mermoud, Special Representative for Commercial and Business Affairs of the US Department of State.
Minister H. Babayev told of the transnational projects that Azerbaijan is implementing in the Caspian region and South Caucasus together with the American companies. H. Babayev said Azerbaijan also puts a special emphasis on development of the non-energy sector.
Stressing that President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev received him, F. Mermoud highlighted the President’s attention to development of the non-energy sector in the country. The main objective of his visit, according to him, is to develop non-energy sector, in particular, expand agriculture cooperation and discuss the opportunies for joint funding of the projects in this sphere. These projects will cover certification and quality control, food safety, fight against bird flu and training of specialists in these fields. Mermoud met with some members of the delegation - businessmen engaged in the agriculture - and agreed some projects with them. He highlighted Economic Development Ministry’s role in implementation of these projects.
He said USA has to date allocated some $50 million on development of agriculture in Azerbaijan.
H. Babayev said Azerbaijan would do everything to expand ties with the United States for effective use of existing potential in the non-energy sector.
The sides also exchanged their views on prospects for cooperation in other sectors of economy.