Today.Az » Business » Azerbaijani-Uzbek inter-governmental commission identifies prospects of bilateral cooperation
24 September 2010 [12:30] - Today.Az
A protocol on the results of the Uzbek-Azerbaijani inter-governmental commission, which determined the prospects for development of bilateral relations, was signed on Thursday in Tashkent. The document was signed by the co-chairs of the inter-governmental commission - Vice Prime Minister of Uzbekistan Batir Khodjayev and Deputy Prime Minister Yaqub Eyyubov.
It was noted during commission's meeting that the current commission meeting was held prior to the upcoming Tashkent summit of leaders of the two states, and this doubles the importance and responsibility of the inter-governmental commission.
Azerbaijan in Uzbekistan, and Uzbekistan in Azerbaijan are considered important and reliable foreign trade partners. The two countries have laid a solid foundation in their relations and there is compelling opportunities for establishing mutually beneficial cooperation in practically all sectors of the economy and humanitarian sphere.
"We understand and appreciate the opportunities that can be realized by strengthening mutual understanding and deepen mutually beneficial cooperation in trade, transport and communication, cultural and humanitarian spheres, as well as in other areas of mutual interest," - said Khodjayev.
In particular, enterprises in Uzbekistan are ready to offer a wide range of products - wheat, machinery, cars and trucks, passenger buses, a wide range of electrical, chemical products, fertilizers, plant protection chemicals, nonmetallic plastic pipes, furniture, sports equipment and other goods. In this regard, urgent is the establishment of trading houses and joint ventures aimed at production of a wide range of products, exhibitions and fairs for a closer and stronger links between entrepreneurs.
Khodjayev invited the representatives of Azerbaijan to visit cooperation exchange and international industrial fair to be held Oct. 25 in Tashkent. The strategic direction of bilateral relations is cooperation in the sphere of transport and transport communications, as well as the use of the huge transit potential of the two states.
Today, it becomes urgent to resume the Trans-Caucasus transportation corridor for transportation of export and import goods of Uzbekistan. Enormous opportunities are also opened by launching a transport corridor Baku-Tbilisi-Kars with an access to the markets of South and Central Europe and the Mediterranean Sea.
Further work is needed to create favorable conditions for transit of goods through the territories of Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan, including providing competitive tariffs for cargo transportation. Expansion of the contractual framework between the two republics will also contribute to the further expansion of Uzbek-Azerbaijani cooperation.
Full implementation of the Program of Uzbek-Azerbaijani economic cooperation in 2011-2015, the signing of which is scheduled during Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliev's visit to Uzbekistan, and plan for it will enhance economic ties and bilateral trade. Expansion of the contractual framework will also facilitate the expansion of bilateral cooperation.
According to official statistics, the trade turnover between Uzbekistan and Azerbaijan in 2009 decreased 35% - to $42 million, but in January-June 2010, totaled $7.9 million compared to $24.9 million in the same period of last year. Uzbekistan exports to Azerbaijan machines and equipment, food, chemical industry, nonferrous and ferrous metals, energy resources. Azerbaijan's exports to Uzbekistan includes equipment, chemical products.
/Trend/
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