In Ashgabat on November 28, within the framework of the 7th meeting of the Intergovernmental Turkmen-Azerbaijani Commission on Economic Cooperation, a business forum was held with the participation of representatives of the business circles of Turkmenistan and Azerbaijan. Issues of expanding bilateral economic ties and implementing joint business projects were discussed, a Turkmenportal correspondent reports.

The event was attended by officials from government agencies of both countries, as well as entrepreneurs working in the fields of agriculture, food and light industry, pharmaceuticals, construction, tourism, logistics and other industries.

The delegation was headed by Deputy Prime Minister of Turkmenistan for Trade and Industrial Complex Batyr Atdayev and Minister of Economy of Azerbaijan Mikail Jabbarov.

During the forum, information was presented on the investment climate and ongoing economic reforms in Azerbaijan, as well as on the work of industrial zones on its territory.

Chairman of the Board of the Authorized Structure of the Free Economic Zone Alyat Valeh Aleskerov spoke in detail about the advantages of doing business in this zone. He emphasized that Alyat is a strategic project aimed at modernizing the oil and gas and non-resource sectors of the Azerbaijani economy, attracting foreign investment, creating new jobs and increasing the competitiveness of national goods on the world market.

Also speaking at the forum was the commercial director of the metallurgical company Baku Steel Company, Vusal Ruzmanov.

Participants from both sides noted the importance of regularly holding joint business events, exhibitions and forums to establish direct business contacts between companies of the two countries.

At the end of the event, the founder of the “Turkmen Hazar Yollary” company, Gashim Saftarov, presented Valeh Aleskerov and Vusal Ruzmanov with the book “Heydar Aliyev” from the “Life of Remarkable People” series, translated into Turkmen with the support of the Azerbaijani Embassy in Turkmenistan, and published in 2010 by the State Publishing Service country with the blessing of the National Leader of the Turkmen people Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov.

Following the results of the Turkmen-Azerbaijani business forum, the parties voiced specific proposals for the further expansion of trade and economic ties and the implementation of promising joint projects.

The participants noted the favorable geographical location of Turkmenistan and Azerbaijan, which dictates the need to increase cooperation in the field of transport and logistics. In particular, there is great potential for creating transit routes across the Caspian Sea, which will strengthen trade ties between Central Asian countries and neighboring regions.

In this regard, it is worth noting the activities of the transport company “Turkmen Hazar Yollary”, which has already accumulated significant experience in the field of maritime cargo transportation and logistics in the Caspian Sea. In addition, together with Turkish partners, she implemented a large construction project - the construction of a 12-story residential building for employees of the Ministry of Agriculture of Turkmenistan. This accumulated potential opens up good prospects for the company’s further participation in the development of the region’s transport infrastructure.