The 7th meeting of the Azerbaijan-Bulgaria Intergovernmental Commission on Economic Cooperation was held in Sofia

The 7th meeting of the Azerbaijan-Bulgaria Intergovernmental Commission on Economic Cooperation was held in Sofia.

Before the meeting, a bilateral meeting was held between the delegation led by the Azerbaijani co-chairman of the intergovernmental commission, Minister of Agriculture Majnun Mammadov, and the Bulgarian co-chairman of the commission, Minister of Energy Jecho Stankov. The meeting exchanged views on the directions of bilateral cooperation between Azerbaijan and Bulgaria, energy, transport, agriculture, technology transfer, increasing trade turnover, promoting mutual investments, using the advantages created by the Middle Corridor when exporting products to third countries, cooperation in the fields of food security, environmental protection, labor and social protection, healthcare, culture, tourism, and other issues.

Then, the 7th meeting of the Azerbaijan-Bulgaria Intergovernmental Commission on Economic Cooperation began its work.

Co-Chairman of the Azerbaijan-Bulgaria Intergovernmental Commission on Economic Cooperation, Minister of Energy Jecho Stankov noted that the Bulgarian side is interested in cooperation with Azerbaijan in all areas of mutual interest - trade and industry, investments, energy, transport, agriculture, defense, tourism, culture and other areas. Calling Azerbaijan a strategic economic partner of Bulgaria, Jecho Stankov emphasized that relations in the energy sector play a key role in bilateral relations. He added that Bulgaria attaches great importance to expanding cooperation with Azerbaijan, which identifies diversification of energy sources and routes as a priority direction.

Co-Chairman of the Azerbaijan-Bulgaria Intergovernmental Commission on Economic Cooperation, Minister of Agriculture Majnun Mammadov noted that relations between our countries have been successfully developing in all areas for 30 years, that Azerbaijan attaches great importance to expanding relations based on multifaceted cooperation established with Bulgaria, and that there is great potential for the development of relations in all areas. The co-chairman drew attention to the importance of further diversifying trade relations and increasing trade turnover, taking into account the economic potential of the two countries, and said that jointly organized business forums will allow for regular exchange of information on export-oriented competitive products.

The minister touched upon the importance of eliminating the difficulties and bureaucratic obstacles associated with the export of Azerbaijani products, including agricultural products, to the European Union and third countries through Bulgaria. Majnun Mammadov called on businessmen of both countries to make the most of the favorable geographical positions for product export and the advantages of economic zones in Azerbaijan and Bulgaria.

Then, a protocol was signed on the results of the 7th meeting of the Azerbaijan-Bulgaria Intergovernmental Commission on Economic Cooperation. The document envisages further development of bilateral cooperation between the two countries in the fields of economy, agriculture, food security, industry, energy, transport, information and communication technologies, scientific and technical and humanitarian, social, healthcare, environment and tourism. The final protocol also reflects the intention to further improve the legal and regulatory framework of bilateral relations between the two countries.

The parties agreed to hold the 8th meeting of the Azerbaijan-Bulgaria Intergovernmental Commission on Economic Cooperation in Azerbaijan next year.