The trade turnover between Azerbaijan and Serbia has grown by 33% this year, Economy Ministry reported.
The ministry was commenting on the fifth meeting of the Azerbaijan-Serbia intergovernmental commission on trade and economic cooperation.
Prior to the meeting of the intergovernmental commission with the participation of delegations led by co-chairs of the commission – Azerbaijani Economy Minister Shahin Mustafayev and deputy prime minister of Serbia, Minister of Trade, Tourism and Telecommunications Rasim Ljajic – a round table meeting was held with participation of Serbian companies.
During the event, information was provided on the favorable environment for business and investment created in Azerbaijan, and the development of ties between the business circles of Azerbaijan and Serbia, and the expansion of bilateral cooperation in business sphere were discussed.
On the same day, the fifth meeting of the intergovernmental commission was held.
Speaking at the meeting, Mustafayev noted that the relations between Azerbaijan and Serbia were based on the principles of mutual friendship and respect, and the heads of state of both countries attached great importance to cooperation.
Mustafayev stressed the importance of the visit of Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev to Serbia in 2011 and President of Serbia Aleksandar Vucic to Azerbaijan in 2018 in the development of bilateral cooperation.
The Declaration on Friendship and Strategic Partnership between Azerbaijan and Serbia signed in 2013 and the Joint Action Plan on Strategic Cooperation between Azerbaijan and Serbia signed in May 2018 are the main documents defining the nature of bilateral cooperation, he said.
During the last visit of the Serbian president to Azerbaijan, a number of important documents were signed in the fields of medicine and medical education, plant protection, international freight and air communications, and an Azerbaijani-Serbian business meeting was held, he noted.
It was noted that trade relations were also one of the main areas of cooperation between the two countries.
The trade turnover between the two countries grew by 36% in 2017, and by 33% in the nine months of 2018. Azerbaijan and Serbia are making mutual investments, Mustafayev said.
Azerbaijani company Azvirt participates in infrastructure projects in Serbia, he noted, adding that cooperation in the field of tourism was also developing.
In 2017 the number of Serbian citizens visiting Azerbaijan increased by 14%, he said. Citizens of Azerbaijan can visit Serbia without a visa, while citizens of Serbia can use the opportunities of the ASAN Visa system during their visit to Azerbaijan, he noted.
As for cooperation in the humanitarian sphere, the minister noted that since 2018, the Center for the Azerbaijani Language and Culture had been operating at the University of Belgrade, and the Center for the Serbian Language and Culture had been operating at the Azerbaijan University of Languages.
In turn, Ljajic in his speech stressed that Serbia attached great importance to relations with Azerbaijan.
He noted the expansion of trade and economic cooperation, the possibility of interaction in the fields of energy, agriculture, infrastructure, ICT, tourism and others.
Following the fifth meeting of the intergovernmental commission on trade and economic cooperation between Azerbaijan and Serbia, a protocol was signed. The document was signed by Shahin Mustafayev and Rasim Ljajic.
The document provides for the continuation and expansion of cooperation in trade and economic, investment, financial, industrial, energy, transport, infrastructure, agriculture, SMEs, ICT, education, healthcare, ecology, tourism, culture, youth, sports and other spheres.
During the visit to Serbia, the Azerbaijani delegation met with Minister of Healthcare Zlatibor Loncar.
At the meeting, information was provided on the possibilities of the Pirallahi Industrial Park created in Azerbaijan, and issues of cooperation with Serbian companies in the field of healthcare were discussed. (Trend/Business World Magazine)