Baku hosts investment conference

Azerbiajani Economic and Development Minister Heydar Babayev read out President Ilham Aliyev's appeal at the outset.

IDB President Dr. Ahmad Mohamed Ali AL-Madani said the IDB attaches great importance to both expansion of the relations between the member states and mutual investment-making.

"The IDB implements a Mutual Investment Program in collaboration with United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) and Malaysia-based Development Organizations. I call on Azerbaijan to take part in this Program," he said.

Touching on the analysis concerning Azerbaijan, Dr. Ahmad Mohamed Ali said that Azerbaijan's export was $547m in 1995 while it reached $4.5bn in 2005. During this period the inflation fell.

He also added Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan came on line, and this pipeline will double Azerbaijan's opportunities.

"The Small and Medium-size Enterprises is expected to thrive in Azerbaijan in the nearest future. Investment flows to Azerbaijan will increase," he underscored.

The conference participants watched trade exhibition. The Government's exhibition was dedicated to Azerbaijan’s prospects and investment climate, APA reports.