Turkey's Minister of Agriculture arrives in Azerbaijan-UPDATED

17:55

President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has received a delegation led by Turkey's Minister of Agriculture and Rural Affairs Mehmet Mehti Eker, as reported by the press service for the President.

During the meeting, the visitor noted that Turkey attaches special importance to agricultural sector and stressed his country's readiness to expand partnership with Azerbaijan in the said sphere.

The head of state noted that a greater part of our population resides in rural areas and the government carries out due programs for the development of agriculture and farmers receive necessary aid.

Ilham Aliyev said Turkey's experience in this sphere is interesting for Azerbaijan and stressed the necessity to continue exchange of experience between the due ministries of both countries

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17:32

Turkey intends to expand ties with Azerbaijan in agricultural sector along with other spheres, as reported by Turkey Minister of Agriculture and Rural Affairs Mehmed Mekhti Eker, who arrived in Baku on December 28.

"Azerbaijan and Turkey have signed agreement on cooperation in agricultural sphere. In frames of the visit I intend to discuss expansion of ties in agricultural sphere, animal breeding and agroindustrial complex".

The Minister said new projects will also be discussed.

M.Eker stressed importance of raising the trade turnover between the two countries. He said the current indicator of yearly trade turnover does not reflect existing potential.

M.Eker added that new projects will cover researches in the sphere of agriculture, seed-growing, animal breeding and others.

The Minister noted that Turkey is one of the biggest world producers of alkanoid and it is ready to assist Azerbaijan in this direction.

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15:31

He has visited the Alley of Honorary Burial, Martyrs' Alley and Monument to Turkish Soldiers in Baku.

The Turkish delegation has been received by Azerbaijan's Ministry of Agriculture.

Azerbaijani Minister Ismat Abbasov said the two countries maintain good relations in all economic fields.

According to him, the joint commission for scientific and technical cooperation set between the two ministries in 1995 has has four meetings. He also added that the private sector accounts for 97.7% of agricultural production in Azerbaijan.

Mehmet Mehdi Eker stressed importance of new joint projects in various fields of agricultural sector and said Turkey displays interest in cooperation in seed-growing, farming, veterinary service and scientific and agrarian researches.

According to him, mutual visits of specialists are important for further development of cooperation and relations.

/APA/