Ambassador: Azerbaijan-Japan energy cooperation should be expanded

Azerbaijani Ambassador to Japan Gursel Ismayilzada called for expanding bilateral cooperation in the field of energy resource development by promoting human resource exchanges and introducing Japan's technology to the Central Asian country.

''We are ready to export our oil and gas to Japan. At the same time we can learn many things from Japan,'' Ismayilzada said in an interview with Kyodo News.

He also said the country is seeking to attract Japanese companies to start businesses there or set up joint ventures with local firms in sectors such as energy resource development and related infrastructure.

Ismayilzada indicated Azerbaijan will take advantage of next month's economic forum with Japan in Azerbaijan to encourage more Japanese companies to do business, citing cheap labor in Azerbaijan.

''We are open for almost all projects,'' he said.

He said Azerbaijan will work on boosting tourism between Japan and Azerbaijan as well as three other former Soviet Union countries nearby -- Georgia, Ukraine and Moldova -- under the framework of ''GUAM plus Japan'' by organizing tourism exhibition and seminars.


/Trend/