"Azerbaijan to open new trade houses in EU and CIS"

Azerbaijan plans to open trade houses in several capitals of the EU and CIS to promote the local production exports, Azerbaijani Economic Development Minister Shahin Mustafayev said on Wednesday.

"We study different countries that are most attractive to us for possibilities on the establishment of Azerbaijani trade houses. It may be markets like the CIS and EU countries. We are going to get a place in these markets for our exports," Mustafayev said.

He said the trading houses, which will be created in the near future, will operate on a continuous basis, and will be aimed both at encouraging private trade, as well as organizing exhibitions.

To encourage the Azerbaijani exports, the ministry conducted over 200 educational events in 2010 for local entrepreneurs to increase their competitiveness, improve the quality of packaging and labeling, and conform to the requirements of foreign markets. In addition, state-sponsored enterprise is under consideration on the packaging of various products. Construction will be completed by late 2011.

Mustafayev said today that a shipyard, three cement plants, incinerator of municipal solid waste, milk processing plant, and plants on agricultural products and construction materials are under construction in the country.

"Large enterprises, such as a plant for the production of electronic equipment in Sumgayit, a car factory in Nakhchivan, the Masazir salt manufacturing plant and Gedabek gold plant have already been commissioned. The activities of these enterprises are aimed at strengthening the country's industrial potential," he said.

60 industries were commissioned in 2010 and another 80 objects are under construction in the country.


/Trend/