Azerbaijan keen on expanding customs co-op with Belarus

/By AzerNews/

By Aynur Karimova

Azerbaijan is interested in expanding cooperation with Belarus in the customs field.

This was announced by the Chairman of the State Customs Committee of Azerbaijan, Aydin Aliyev, during a meeting with Belarusian Ambassador to Azerbaijan Gennady Ahramovich on October 6.

He also stressed the importance of development and integration of relations between the two countries in this field, and expressed satisfaction with the level of mutual cooperation between the two countries.

Ahramovich, in turn, noted the importance of expanding cooperation between the two friendly countries in all fields, including customs.

They also exchanged views on issues of mutual interest and discussed future prospects of joint cooperation.

Diplomatic relations between Azerbaijan and Belarus were established in 1993, but Azerbaijan and Belarus started to get closer during past decade.

Currently the two countries enjoy high level ties in various fields and closely cooperate within international organizations. Belarus opened embassy in Azerbaijan in February 2006, Azerbaijan opened embassy in Belarus in August 2006.

According to the Belarusian government,the Belarus-Azerbaijan mutual trade turnover totaled $330.8 million in 2014.

Belarus' main exports include products of wood working, mechanical engineering, foodstuffs, medications, ferrous metals and glassware. Azerbaijan's exports comprise oil products, hydrocarbons, juices, agricultural products, aluminum goods.

Currently the two countries are implementing the long-term social and economic cooperation program through 2015. Belarus has been implementing projects in logistics, public catering, and trade with a total amount of Azerbaijani investment of over $20 million. Minsk and Baku operate regular flights.