ECONOMY
Turkey-Azerbaijan-Georgia business-forum held in Kars
Baku, June 11 (AZERTAC). Turkey-Azerbaijan-Georgia Business-Forum was held in Turkish city Kars. The Forum was organized by Azerbaijani Ministry of Economic Development, AzPromo (Azerbaijani Export & Investment Promotion Foundation), Turkiye Odalar ve Borsalar Birligi (TOBB) and Turkish Foreign Economic Relations, and Georgian Invest in Georgia National Investment Agency.
As is stated, the Forum is being held trilaterally with the initiative of Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev.
The Azerbaijani delegation headed by Minister of Economic Development Shahin Mustafayev and comprising officials, as well entrepreneurs engaging in industry, agriculture, construction, tourism, energy, bank, finance, information-communication technologies, logistics and other spheres attended the event.
Turkish Economic Minister Zafer Chaglayan noted this forum as an example of Azerbaijan-Turkey-Georgia friendship and informed about current economic links among the countries and development of cooperation. Turkish Minister also noted that as long as Armenia does not withdraw from occupied territories in Azerbaijan, Turkey will not establish relations with Armenia: “Turkey always supported Azerbaijan and will support forever”.
Azerbaijani Minister of Economic Development Shahin Mustafayev noted that, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev attached importance to sustainable development of political and economic links with both Turkey and Georgia and stressed that Azerbaijan-Georgia-Turkey collaboration was a model in the world: “Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan, Baku-Tbilisi-Erzurum, East-West transport corridor, Baku-Tbilisi-Kars transnational projects, implemented for realization of our countries’ economic potential, conditional geographical position, great transit opportunities, change the region to the important ring of profitable economic cooperation between Asia and Europe”.
Mustafayev noted that, during 4 months of 2012, Azerbaijan’s trade turnover with Turkey rose 60%, with Georgia - 15% in comparison to a year earlier. At present, 1,106 Turkish investment-based companies operate in Azerbaijan and at the same time, 844 Azerbaijani investment-based companies operate in Turkey. Turkish investment in Azerbaijan makes $ 1.9 bln, investments of SOCAR and other companies in Turkey are approximately $ 4.5 bln. SOCAR’s investments will make $17 bln until 2018: “272 Azerbaijani investment-based companies operate in Georgia and $ 454.5 mln were invested during 1996-2011”.
Business forum lasted with bilateral meetings among the businessmen.