(MENAFN- Trend News Agency)
BAKU, Azerbaijan, September 26. The second
Azerbaijan-GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council) economic forum has been
held in Baku, Trend reports.
The event featured panel discussions themed "Cooperation on
renewable energy, clean energy, electricity, and water projects",
"Challenges and opportunities in the transport and logistics
sectors between Azerbaijan and the Gulf Countries", and "Strategic
partnership between Azerbaijan and Gulf countries in agriculture,
food security, and the food industry".
The speakers included leaders from the Ministries of Economy of
Azerbaijan and Qatar, the executive director of AZPROMO,
representatives from various bodies of the GCC, and experts from
companies in the energy, transport, and agricultural sectors.
Chairman of the Federation of Gulf Countries Chambers of
Commerce (FGCCC) Sheikh Faisal bin Abdulla Al-Rawas said that the
FGCCC will support the expansion of ties with Azerbaijan.
According to him, it is very important that the Azerbaijan-Gulf
Cooperation Council Economic Forum is under the patronage of the
Azerbaijani leadership, which guarantees increased attention and
progress on the implementation of projects.
“I am confident that the negotiations in Baku will open new
opportunities for business development between companies of
Azerbaijan and the Persian Gulf countries,” Al-Rawas
emphasized.
The Undersecretary of Ministry of Commerce and Industry Mohammed
bin Hassan Al Malki noted that energy, transportation, tourism, and
agribusiness are among the promising areas of cooperation between
Qatar and Azerbaijan.
He spoke in favor of expanding cooperation aimed at increasing
the well-being of the people in Azerbaijan and the Persian Gulf
countries.
Hassan Al Malki expressed confidence that this forum in Baku
will open new opportunities for cooperation in the mentioned
sectors.
“This negotiation platform will not only stabilize our
partnership but also increase it many times. I am confident that
the agreements to be reached during the negotiations in Baku will
increase the level of our trade with Azerbaijan,” the
undersecretary said.
The executive director of the Export and Investment Promotion
Agency (AZPROMO) Yusif Abdullayev stressed that new companies from
the Persian Gulf countries will be welcomed in Azerbaijan.
“The Persian Gulf countries have invested more than $4 billion
in Azerbaijan's economy. Trade turnover between Azerbaijan and the
Gulf countries amounted to $75 million," he said.
Abdullayev recalled that during the first forum on economic
cooperation between Azerbaijan and the Gulf countries in 2017, the
start of projects in Azerbaijan was given to such giants as Masdar
and ACWA Power, which have become strategic partners of
Azerbaijan.
“I believe that after today's second forum, Azerbaijan's
cooperation with Gulf companies will further intensify,” Abdullayev
noted.
Azerbaijani Deputy Economy Minister Anar Akhundov said that
Azerbaijan's transformation into transit hub will boost relations
with the Gulf countries.
"The growing transport and transit capabilities of our country,
as well as the regional and international projects being
implemented in this area, particularly the Middle Corridor, the
Baku International Sea Trade Port, and the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars
railway, open up new prospects.
One of the key goals of the Socio-Economic Development Strategy
for 2022-2026 is to turn Azerbaijan into a regional transit hub and
expand cargo and logistics operations, which will create even more
opportunities for cooperation with the GCC countries," he
explained.
The deputy minister emphasized that Azerbaijan being chosen as
the next host country for COP29 after the UAE presents an excellent
opportunity to benefit from the Emirates' experience and strengthen
cooperation.
He also added that, tourism ties between Azerbaijan and the Gulf
countries have significantly enhanced in recent years.
“The development of tourism infrastructure in Azerbaijan and
steps taken to promote tourism have led to significant progress in
this field. An increase in the number of direct flights,
simplification of visa procedures, and transition to a visa-free
regime for some countries have generally strengthened the visit of
tourists. The number of tourists visiting Azerbaijan from several
Gulf countries has increased by more than 50 percent,” he said.
Furthermore, Akhundov also emphasized the attractiveness of
Azerbaijan's business climate for foreign investors.
“The country provides significant tax benefits, which
facilitates the implementation of joint projects in areas such as
renewable energy, industry, agriculture, tourism, transport,
logistics and digitalization. Azerbaijan continues to support its
international partners and investors by fulfilling all its
commitments,” he added.
The memorandum of understanding between the Azerbaijan Export
and Investment Promotion Agency (AZPROMO) and the Federation of
Gulf Chambers of Commerce has been signed within the forum.
The document envisages the facilitation of mutual activities on
the development of economic relations between AZPROMO and Gulf
countries, support for the attraction of investments from
Azerbaijan to Gulf countries and from Gulf countries to Azerbaijan,
as well as the organization of economic forums, exhibitions, and
trade missions.
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