Baku hosts Agribusiness Development Forum

Baku hosts Agribusiness Development Forum jointly organized by the Ministry of Agriculture and the Ministry of Economy and with the support of the World Bank. The event was attended by senior officials of the Ministries of Agriculture and Economy, subordinate bodies of both Ministries, representatives of FAO representation in Azerbaijan, World Bank representation in Azerbaijan, representatives of the Central Bank, Azerbaijan Banks Association, banks operating in the country and other international organizations.

The purpose of the two-day forum is to bring together the parties who play a role in the development of agribusiness in the country and discuss international and local experience, current situation, opportunities, including the steps necessary to benefit farmers and entrepreneurs rather than financial support for agribusiness and state benefits.

Opening the event, Minister of Agriculture Inam Karimov said that the development of the agricultural sector has been declared one of the priorities by the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Mr. Ilham Aliyev. As a result of the measures taken consistently, sustainable development of the agricultural sector has been ensured. In January-November of this year, the total production volume of agricultural products increased by 3.8% compared to the same period last year, and export of products by 13%.

It was noted that relevant work is implemented by the state for the development of agricultural production and processing industry. Together with the Ministry of Agriculture and Economy, an Action Plan on the development of production and processing industry in the agricultural sector is being implemented. In the Action Plan, the mechanism for the leasing and commissioning of agricultural lands will be improved for the purpose of effective use of these lands. At the same time, it is planned to simplify the procedures for the export of agricultural products, to apply customs and tax benefits to export-oriented agricultural products.

The liberation of our lands under the leadership of the Supreme Commander-in-chief of the Victorious Army created opportunities for the restoration and re-development of agriculture in the region. The inclusion of new territories in the crop turnover will increase crop production, the fertile lands of the region will increase the production of grain, vegetables and fruits, and give an impetus to the development of livestock. Important infrastructure projects implemented in the liberated areas will also support the development of agriculture. The construction of agricultural processing enterprises will have a significant impact on the sustainable development of agriculture in the region.

Chairman of the Committee on Agricultural Policy of the National Assembly Tahir Rzayev touched on the implementation work in the agricultural sector and said that as a result of consistent and systematic measures, the agricultural sector has been developing dynamically in the country in recent years.

Deputy Minister of Economy Elnur Aliyev spoke about state support to the agricultural sector, which plays an important role in the economy and employment of the population. He said that the reforms carried out in the direction of development of the agricultural sector, concessions and assistance to agricultural producers have created a significant basis for the development of this sector in the country's economy.

It was noted that effective use of land and water resources in the field of agribusiness, creation of production areas that will create added value, including deepening of processing in the agrarian sector, increasing export opportunities and finding new export channels, application of modern technologies and scientific approach, expansion of the use of public-private partnership opportunities, application of clustering, further expansion of

President of the Confederation of Entrepreneurs of Azerbaijan Mammad Musayev, Chairman of the Board of Small and Medium Business Development Agency of Azerbaijan under the Ministry of Economy Orkhan Mammadov, Executive Director of the Central Bank of the Republic of Azerbaijan Togrul Aliyev, Chief Operations Specialist of the World Bank office in Azerbaijan Saida Baghirli, Chairman of the Agrarian Credit and Development Agency under the Ministry of Agriculture  Seymur Movlayev and others, they also touched upon issues of public-private sector cooperation related to the development of this area.

The Forum continued its work with panel sessions. At the forum, investment opportunities and new challenges in the agricultural sector, experience of agribusiness financing in the banking sector, financial instruments, risks and proposals on their regulation, development of entrepreneurship in the agricultural sector, difficulties and opportunities, the role of the state in the development of the agricultural sector, and directions of improvement of state support measures were discussed.

The agribusiness Development Forum will be ended tomorrow.