The diversification of economic and trade relations between Italy and Azerbaijan was discussed and several documents were signed.
Within the framework of the Azerbaijani President's business visit to Italy, an Italy-Azerbaijan Round Table was held with the support of the Italian Ministry of Enterprise and "Made in Italy," the Ministry of Economy of Azerbaijan, the Export and Investment Promotion Agency - AZPROMO and the Confederation of Italian Industry (Confindustria). In addition to officials from both countries, the event was attended by around 40 entrepreneurs from the energy, chemical, automotive, engineering, pharmaceutical, agricultural, metallurgical, construction, food, and other sectors.
Minister of Economy Mikail Jabbarov noted that the relations between our countries are strategic, stressing that Italy is the largest trade partner of Azerbaijan. It was noted that our country attaches great importance to strengthening multifaceted economic cooperation with Italy, as a result of which many Italian companies are successfully operating in various sectors of the country's economy, including in the territories liberated from occupation. It was stressed that the discussions and agreements reached at the round table will further strengthen our relations and create new opportunities.
Adolfo Urso, the Italian Minister of Entrepreneurship and "Made in Italy," and Emanuele Orsini, the President of the Confederation of Italian Industries, spoke at the round table about the strategic energy partnership between Azerbaijan and Italy and the opportunities for development of bilateral relations in the non-oil sector.
During the event, Yusif Abdullayev, Executive Director of AZPROMO, Orkhan Mammadov, Chairman of the Board of the Small and Medium Business Development Agency, Ulvi Mansurov, Executive Director of the Azerbaijan Investment Company, and Elkin Nurmamedov, Vice-Rector of ADA University, provided information on Azerbaijan's export and investment potential, common useful areas and promising projects. In addition, issues related to strengthening cooperation in industry, renewable energy, infrastructure, transport, textile, chemical, pharmaceutical and other priority sectors were discussed, and representatives of companies from both countries shared their views on establishing and developing business partnerships.
During the event, memoranda of understanding were signed between the Export and Investment Promotion Agency - AZPROMO and the Confederation of Italian Industry (Confindustria), the Italian company Dromont Comec and the Azerbaijani company Matanet A, the Italian company Leonardo Electronics and Improtex Industries Ltd, the company Saloglu and the Italian companies Visionnaire - IPA and Biesse S.P.A. The documents cover such areas as the implementation of new joint production and services, research and development projects and exchange of experience.
Within the framework of the visit, meetings were held between members of the Azerbaijani delegation and representatives of the Italian Trade Agency, Annatura, a company specialising in agricultural and food technologies, the Scorpio group of companies, and the Italian agricultural organisation Coldiretti, and the prospects of mutually beneficial cooperation were discussed.