Azerbaijan Ready to Boost Agro Cooperation With Iran
Azerbaijan is ready to boost cooperation with neighboring Iran in the agriculture sector.Azerbaijani Agriculture Minister Heydar Asadov said this in a meeting with Iran's Ambassador in Baku, Mohsen Pakaien, Trend News Agency reported.Referring to the agricultural deal signed by the two states during President Ilham Aliyev's Tehran visit in February, Asadov said that Baku is ready to cooperate with Tehran in various fields of agriculture sector, including in research and training, soil and water, seed exchange and trade of agricultural products, as well as boosting the cooperatives.The minister contended that Azerbaijan and Iran can cooperate extensively in the import and export of agrarian goods.He also invited his Iranian counterpart Mahmoud Hojjati to pay an official visit to Baku in the near future.Pakaien said that the two parties are determined to boost cooperation in the fields of veterinary and agriculture.He believed that Tehran and Baku enjoy good potentials in the agriculture sector, and can exchange their capacities through mutual cooperation.Last December, Azerbaijan and Iran agreed to set up joint ventures in the production and processing of agricultural products.The enterprises are expected to be established on the territories of both countries. It is assumed that agricultural products from these enterprises will go to Russia on transit via Azerbaijan, as well as in the western direction, to the Black Sea, through the territory of Azerbaijan and Georgia.The agricultural sector is of significant importance for Azerbaijan, which is keen to reduce its dependence on the oil sector.Azerbaijan, being engaged in increasing its export potential and boosting and protecting the population's food security, sees the agricultural sector as a central direction in a bid to diversify the national economy.Enjoying advantageous geographic location, Azerbaijan has all possibilities to increase export of high quality agro products, which are in great demand in neighboring countries.Experts believe that with the further development of production of high quality agricultural goods, Azerbaijan will not only be able to increase the supply to neighboring countries, but also enter markets in Eastern Europe.In Iran, agriculture is also one of the most important sectors of the national economy, accounting over 10 percent of GDP. Agricultural products have always constituted a major part of the non-oil products, exported to foreign markets.The main export regions include the Middle East, Central Asia and other CIS nations, Europe, and South America. The country is also increasingly importing food technology, including processing and packaging equipment.
