Azerbaijan-US cooperation in the field of agriculture discussed in Washington

A delegation of the Ministry of Agriculture is in the United States to attend the Oklahoma-Azerbaijan Agriculture Forum.

The delegation led by Minister Inam Karimov held business meetings in Washington during his visit to the United States.

During the meetings with Werner Gruber, World Bank Regional Executive Director and Thomas Telma, Regional Director for Agricultural Operations of IFC, were briefed information on key areas of agricultural development strategy in Azerbaijan, reforms in the agricultural sector and innovative projects. There was noted that the main goal of agricultural reform is to ensure food security of the country and also mentioned that it is important to use land and water resources more efficiently and the state encourages the introduction of modern technologies in the world in this area. The members of the delegation informed the participants of the meeting about the essence of decrees and orders signed by President Ilham Aliyev in this direction. It was added that the full liberalization of the agricultural machinery market of the country makes this area attractive to foreign investors.

The meeting also discussed the further prospects of cooperation in the field of agriculture. The parties shared that the forum to be held in Oklahoma is an important platform for sharing experiences, exploring partnerships and investment opportunities in the agricultural sector.

The delegation also met with US Secretary of State for Agriculture Greg Daud, US Agency for International Development Assistant Administrator Brock Bierman, and co-chairman of the US-Azerbaijan Economic Partnership Commission Peter Haas. The Azerbaijan-US cooperation, development trends in the country's economy, including the non-oil sector and achievements were discussed at the meetings.

After completing his meetings in Washington, the delegation will leave for Oklahoma to attend the Oklahoma-Azerbaijan Agriculture Forum. This is the second forum in 2019 that brings together US and Azerbaijani agricultural producers. The Chicago forum in April was attended by 33 Illinois companies and 14 Azerbaijani companies.

The forum was organized jointly with the United States-Azerbaijan Chamber of Commerce (USACC), the Oklahoma Department of Commerce and the USAID Azerbaijan Mission within the framework of partnership with the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture Food and Forestry, the Ministry of Agriculture of the Republic of Azerbaijan, the US Embassy in Azerbaijan, the Azerbaijan Embassy in US, the American Chamber of Commerce in Azerbaijan.