Inam Karimov met with french counterpart in Paris

Inam Karimov, Minister of Agriculture met with French counterpart Didier Guillaume on May 23 during a state visit to France. At the meeting, increase in agriculture, ensuring food security and providing people with high-quality food as priority was noted.

Inam Karimov noted about special attention paid to the development of agriculture in our country. He spoke about comprehensive conditions created in Azerbaijan in this field. According to him, there is a high state support to agricultural sector.

Farmers are granted benefits and given subsidies, loans. All are implemented as a result of success for agricultural policy pursued by President Ilham Aliyev. The Minister invited France to take part as an honorary guest of the exhibition next year while informed about Azerbaijan International Agriculture “Caspian Agro” and called agricultural entrepreneurs to use existing liberal market in Azerbaijan more actively.

The French Minister would like to take part at exhibition next year and is interested in strengthening cooperation of his country’s agricultural entrepreneurs with our country. He noted that his country is ready to assist Azerbaijan in the field of animal husbandry, ICT, viticulture and agricultural technique. In June, during the visit of France Entrepreneurs Organization - MEDEF to our country, informed that agricultural companies would also be included in delegation.

On May 24, Inam Karimov met with Etyen Guyo, the prefect of the Okitani region in 21 France. During the meeting, issues of state support to agricultural development in Azerbaijan, reforms carried out in this direction under the leadership of President Ilham Aliyev, directions of development of agricultural sector, use of technology and scientific research were discussed.

Our country was also interested in cooperation with France regions. Prefect E.Guyo noted that he was ready to spend all the opportunities for expanding cooperation with our country and providing the necessary support. Inam Karimov noted that about the plans to take part in traditional international exhibition next year and invited companies from Okitani region of France to “Caspian Agro” in Baku. He called on French agricultural companies to be active in our country and spoke about the benefits, subsidies provided by the state to farmers. He stressed that French companies can expand their trade relations with Asian countries using large-scale international infrastructure projects while visiting to Azerbaijan.

Minister also spoke about the liberalization of sale of agricultural technique, about the favorable conditions created in investment, and suggested Okitani companies carry out investment projects in our country. Prefect E.Guyo was invited to our country to familiarize with the conditions created in agriculture, and he gladly accepted the invitation. During the visit Inam Karimov also met with Gregory But-Gyum, director of the National Institute of Agronomy Toulouse INP ENSAT, Silvan Labbe, national coordinator of the French National Institute for Agricultural Research (INRA) and Jan-Pierre Vinel, rector of the Toulouse III - Paul Sabatier University. At the meetings, implementation affairs and detailed information was given in the direction of development of agro sector in our country under the leadership of President Ilham Aliyev. Minister spoke about the priority directions of agricultural development in our country, existing educational and research centers in this field, activities of the State 22 Agricultural University of Azerbaijan, facing problems and further development in this field.

The leaders of ENSAT, INRA and Toulouse III - Paul Sabatier University spoke about the programs of educational and research centers. Issues of bilateral cooperation, mutual visits of teachers and researchers of educational institutions and research centers of both countries, issues of double diplomas discussed at the meeting. Discussions on implementation of research took place in agriculture field. Within visit, Inam Karimov also held meetings with the Vice-President for Agriculture and Agro Education in Okitani region, leadership of the Chamber of Commerce, Agriculture and entrepreneurs of this region.