The delegation led by the Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of Azerbaijan Shahin Mustafayev represented our country at the 14th international economic forum called “Russia-Islamic World: Kazan Forum” held in Kazan.
Publika.az informs that Şahin Mustafayev spoke on the topic “Economic credibility” within the framework of the forum. He spoke at the plenary meeting under the title “Cooperation between Russia and the countries of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC). The Deputy Prime Minister emphasized that relations with the Islamic world occupy a special place in Azerbaijan’s foreign policy, and that our country is the first post-Soviet country to become a member of the OIC after the restoration of independence. He said that during the past 30 years, economic and political relations with member states of the organization continued to grow. Thus, last year, the trade turnover of Azerbaijan with the countries of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation increased by 42 percent and reached 9.3 billion US dollars. The share of member countries of the organization in Azerbaijan’s foreign trade turnover is 18 percent. Positive dynamics in economic relations continued in the remaining period of this year.
In his speech, Shahin Mustafayev also spoke about the important and decisive role of our country for international transport routes. It was emphasized that the “North-South” and “East-West” transport directions will create great opportunities for the countries of the region with the Zangezur corridor. It was stated that Azerbaijan is ready to implement huge projects with developed transport and transit infrastructure, and the importance of Baku International Sea Port was specially emphasized in this regard.
The Deputy Prime Minister said that the fair position of the OIC members during the Karabakh conflict was highly appreciated in our country. He noted that the conflict has already remained in history. Azerbaijan remains the main initiator of the normalization of relations with Armenia, peace, stability and economic prosperity in the region.
A round table devoted to Russian-Azerbaijani relations was also organized within the framework of the visit to Kazan. During the discussions, it was emphasized that the economic and political relations between Russia and Azerbaijan have a multifaceted, rich historical past. It was noted that with the political will and joint efforts of the President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and the President of Russia Vladimir Putin, bilateral relations reached a strategic level and covered almost all possible areas. It was pointed out that bilateral relations serving mutual interests are based on a solid legal basis created by more than 250 signed documents, including the declaration of alliance.
Shahin Mustafayev noted that last year the trade turnover increased by 24 percent and reached 3.7 billion US dollars. He said that the increase in trade relations in the first quarter of 2023 creates reasonable confidence that new, higher indicators will be achieved in bilateral economic relations this year.
Pointing out that active work is being conducted between the governments of the two countries, the Deputy Prime Minister noted that the “action plan for the development of the main directions of bilateral cooperation until 2024” is of great importance in this regard. In addition, it was stated that one of the main tasks is the development of relations between the regions of the two countries. In this regard, it was emphasized that the holding of the Azerbaijan-Russia interregional forum in Baku in 2022, the business forums organized on a regular basis, as well as the implementation of business missions between the regions of Azerbaijan and Russia are of special importance.
The Deputy Prime Minister pointed out that the tasks of the presidents of Russia and Azerbaijan on the development of interregional relations are being actively implemented. In this direction, it was emphasized that high-level mutual visits were carried out with Dagestan, Tatarstan and Astrakhan provinces at the end of last year and at the beginning of this year.
Shahin Mustafayev took the opportunity to express his gratitude to the government of Astrakhan province for the high-level organization of events dedicated to the 100th anniversary of the birth of National Leader Heydar Aliyev.
The “Russia Halal Expo” exhibition was held in the capital of Tatarstan within the framework of “Russia – Islamic World: Kazan Forum”. Azerbaijan was represented at the exhibition with a single country stand. With the joint support of Azerbaijan Export and Investment Promotion Agency (AZPROMO), Small and Medium Business Development Agency (KOBIA), Azerbaijani products – various meat and meat products, wine, compote, jam, tea and other products and services were presented. At the same time, the economic potential and investment opportunities of the territories freed from occupation were demonstrated at the Azerbaijan stand.
The delegation representing our country at the 14th international economic forum called “Russia – Islamic World: Kazan Forum” got acquainted with the Azerbaijan stand.
During his visit to Kazan, Deputy Prime Minister Shahin Mustafayev met with Russian President’s Assistant Igor Levitin, First Deputy Prime Minister of the Russian Government Andrey Belousov, as well as Deputy Prime Minister Alexei Overchuk.
Prospects of Azerbaijan-Russia economic relations, ways of expanding transport and logistics opportunities were discussed at the meetings.
In the meeting of the delegation representing our country with the Deputy Chairman of the Russian Government, Marat Khusnullin, and the Head of the Republic of Tatarstan, Rustam Minnikhanov, the development potential of relations between the regional entities of Azerbaijan and Russia was discussed. In this regard, it was emphasized that the multifaceted economic, educational and tourism relations of our country with Tatarstan can be a good example.
