Ukraine ambassador to Azerbaijan: "We would like Azerbaijan to join the project of container transportations via Georgian ports to Central Asia"

B.Klimchuk noted that Lithuania, Ukraine and Belarus signed a trilateral agreement on carrying out container transportation in the Black Sea-Baltic direction on May 12.

"The agreement is open to other countries. Poland and Germany's joining the route via Ukraine is being worked out. Moreover, countries of Northern Europe, especially Sweden and Norway also display interest in joining the route. We would like Azerbaijan to join the project via Georgian ports Kulevi and Poti with the further outlet to Central Asia", announced the diplomat adding that Azerbaijani side is interested in this project.

Karakhstan Today reports that regarding cooperation of Azerbaijan and Ukraine in in the oil and gas sector, the diplomat noted that Azerbaijani side displays interest in construction of an oil refinery in Ukraine.

The ambassador said the potential for expansion of bilateral cooperation between the countries is great and talks are being carried out on many spheres, beginning from oil and gas and to agricultural cars, from fertilizers to space".

"The commodity turnover between Azerbaijan and Ukraine is good but mutual investments do not meet the opportunities of our business. In the first quarter of 2008  the volume of trade turnover between our countries made $146,000,000, up 32% from the same period of 2007.

At the same time, export of goods from Ukraine to Azerbaijan made $74,000,000 and import of Azerbaijani goods to Ukraine $72,000,000. We would agree to a negative balance in our trade turnover and expect it to occur in supplies of Azerbaijani oil and oil products in Ukraine", said Klimchuk.

/RJD Partner/