(MENAFN- Trend News Agency) BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 13. Azerbaijan
continues to be at the forefront on the world stage and is becoming
an increasingly attractive partner for Europe. President Ilham
Aliyev's working visit to Germany on March 13-14 is another case of
how Azerbaijan's importance for Europe has increased over the last
couple years.
Multiple meetings with the representatives of leading German
companies scheduled for this visit, as well as meetings with German
President Frank Walter Steinmeier and German federal Chancellor
Olaf Scholtz, are expected to give another impetus to the
development of bilateral relations between Azerbaijan and
Germany.
The contract-legal base between Azerbaijan and Germany is quite
broad. In this field, 77 documents have been signed so far and 7
draft documents are under consideration.
This cooperation, indeed, is one of the most successful among
the EU members. Over the last 30 years, economic relations between
the two countries have reached There are over 200 German companies
registered in Azerbaijan, while around 170 are members of the
Azerbaijani-German chamber of commerce. These companies operate in
such spheres as energy, industry, agriculture, transport,
communication, construction, banking, insurance, trade and
service.
The trade turnover between Azerbaijan and Germany in 2022
totaled over $1.25 billion, of which $591.3 million accounted for
Azerbaijani exports, and $663.5 million – for imports. Over the
last year, Germany ranked 8th in the total Azerbaijan's foreign
trade, and 4th - among the main countries of origin for Azerbaijani
imports.
Azerbaijan's oil supplies to Germany are one of the footholds in
the total trade. Thus, oil exports to Germany over the last year
totaled 881.4 million tons worth $563.7 million. At the same time,
Germany concluded the TOP-10 of Azerbaijan's main oil importers in
2022.
The cooperation between the two countries in the field of energy
is developing rapidly. Back in 2013, the State Oil Company of
Azerbaijan (SOCAR) and Uniper SE, German gas trader, have signed a
long-term gas supply contract.
Since the Southern Gas Corridor that delivers Azerbaijani gas to
Europe was launched, Uniper has been one of the main buyers on the
market. This is the company's longest-term gas purchase project,
which will last until 2045. To date, 3.1 bcm of gas has been
supplied to Uniper from Azerbaijan. SOCAR exported 1,764,500 tons
of crude oil to Germany last year.
Moreover, in 2016, SOCAR and Uniper created a Joint Venture to
develop energy efficiency projects in Azerbaijan. The first project
was the improvement and operation of the steam and power production
complex at the Azerikimya Production Association's chemical plant
in Sumgait. The project is expected to be completed by summer 2023.
The electricity produced at the plant will be supplied to SOCAR's
enterprises and then delivered to the national electricity grid of
Azerbaijan.
When it comes to the reconstruction process in Azerbaijan's
liberated territories, there is a huge potential for German
companies to participate, especially in the sectors where Germany
is traditionally very strong, like renewables, machine building,
the automotive industry, chemical industry and electronics. The
concept of“smart” cities and villages, which goes together with
renewables, is also one of the field of interest for Germany.
The tourists flow between the two countries increased
significantly over the last years. The number of Germans traveling
to Azerbaijan in 2022 almost tripled, totaling 14,426. At the same
time, the number of Azerbaijanis visiting Germany in the past year
amounted to 21,791 people, which is almost 4 times more than in
2021.
The visit of President Ilham Aliyev to Germany is a vivid
evidence of the comprehensive and progressive development of the
Azerbaijani-German strategic partnership, which, thus, will open a
new page in the relations between the two countries.
This visit shows that Azerbaijan, which, effectively using its
economic and geostrategic advantages, has become the leading
country in the South Caucasus, which attracts more and more
partners to cooperate.