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Azerbaijan eyes deepening cooperation with John Deere

21 August 2017 [11:19] - TODAY.AZ

By Azernews


By Sara Israfilbayova

Energy-rich Azerbaijan and John Deere, the US-corporation that manufactures agricultural, construction, and forestry machinery have considered prospects for the cooperation.

The talks took place in Baku with participation of Agriculture Minister Heydar Asadov, John Deere Regional Sales Manager for CIS Dirk Stratmann and John Deere representative for Azerbaijan Maximilian Page on August 17.

Asadov noted that he attaches great importance to cooperation with John Deere adding that there is great potential for further development of these relations.

The minister further offered to set up a working group on education to expand cooperation with the company and attract representatives of the Ministries of Agriculture and of Education, John Deere and farmers to the group.

Stratmann, in turn, voiced that he highly appreciates relations with Azerbaijan in the field of agriculture and attaches great importance to further cooperation.

He emphasized that cotton harvesters manufactured by John Deere are sold to Azerbaijan at the lowest price among the CIS countries.

Under the concluded agreements, the machines will be brought to the country ahead of the cotton harvesting season, he noted.

Azerbaijan, which is eager to diversify its economy on the basis of further development of the non-oil sector, defines agriculture as one the main directions.

The strategic road maps of the national economy of Azerbaijan were approved by the head of state in December, 2016. These documents cover the priority areas of the country's economy. One of the road maps is related to agriculture. In line with measures to be implemented in this field as reflected in this document in Azerbaijan until 2020 it is planned to create about 20,000 new jobs and increase the country's GDP by 1.2 billion manats ($705 million).

As for cotton growing, the state has set a course on restoring the cotton industry and now is providing huge support to this sphere. The State Program for 2017-2022 is aimed at strengthening measures directed at developing this sphere.  

The goal of the state is to bring the cotton production up to 500,000 tons by 2022 from the current 260,000 tons.

The country seeks to export not only raw cotton and cotton fiber, but also finished products following the launch of a major light industry enterprise being created in Mingachevir. 

URL: http://www.today.az/news/business/164241.html

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