On June 23 the 5th Azerbaijani-Russian Interregional Forum in Qabala started its work. Representatives of Azerbaijani and Russian state agencies, parliaments, executive power organs, entrepreneurs working in different sectors of economy, and media representatives have participated in the forum organized by the Ministry of Economy and Industry of the Republic of Azerbaijan jointly with the the Ministry of Regional Development of the Russian Federation. Overall, more than 700 participants from the both countries have taken part in the event. Minister of Economy and Industry of Azerbaijan Shahin Mustafayev welcoming the guests claimed that Azerbaijani-Russian relations based on the principles of mutual respect and good neighbourhood are on the level of strategic partnership. The interregional forum which is held for the 5th time already demosntrates the successful development of the two countries’ cooperation. A strong legal base between Azerbaijan and Russia has been established: the number of documents signed in economic sphere only has exceeded 40, with the overall number totaling 160. Minister Mustafayev emphasized in his speech the successful performance of the Intergovernmental Commission in developing economic cooperation between Azerbaijan and Russia.
Azerbaijan densely cooperates with the federal subjects of Russia. During 2014 only delegations from Stavropol, Sverdlovsk and Ulyanovsk provinces of Russia visited our country. There exist intergovernmental commissions with 4 Russian regions, treaties on commercial, industrial, scientific, technological and cultural cooperation have been signed with 15 different regions.
The Minister of Regional Development of Russian Federation Igor Slunayev in his speech mentioned that the tradition of interregional forums was established by the two countries’ leaders themselves.
Commercial relations between the countries are quickly developing, many entrepreneurs make investments into each other’s economies. The Ambassador of Azerbaijan to Russia Polad Bulbuloglu and Russian Ambassador to Azerbaijan Vladimir Dorokhin made speeches emphasizing the highest level of the bilateral relations.
On the same day roundtables dedicated to relations and cooperation in humanitarian, energy, transport and investment spheres were held within the framework of the Interregional Forum.
During the roundtable on “Cooperation in investment sphere. Results, opportunities, perspectives”, speeches of businessmen and representatives of state agencies were listened to, presentations on business and investment opportunities in Azerbaijan and Russia were made by AZPROMO and National Investment Agency of Russia, companies from the both countries presented several investment projects, presentations of Azerbaijan Investment Company, Sumgayit Chemical Industry Park and several regions of Russia were made, bilateral relations between the entrepreneurs were organized. At the roundtable, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed between AZPROMO and the Ministry of Economic Development of Ingushetian Republic. The memorandum was signed by the President of AZPROMO Rufat Mammadov and the Minister of Economic Development of Ingushetia Yusup Zurabov.
The 5th Azerbaijani-Russian Interregional Forum will be continued on June 24. On that day, roundtables on agriculture, tourism, banking and entrepreneurship will be held and some documents regarding bilateral cooperation will be signed.