APA,
16, May 2008

The Israeli Embassy in Azerbaijan and the Azerbaijan Export and Investment Promotion Foundation for in (AzPromo) has organized a business forum in Baku.

Shalom Simchon, Israeli Minister for Agriculture and Rural Development, addressed the opening ceremony, saying Azerbaijan has recently achieved remarkable changes in agricultural development.

"I hope that our delegation's visit to Azerbaijan will further expand relations between countries", he added.

Mikayil Jabbarov, Azerbaijani Deputy Minister of Economic Development added that Azerbaijan has used Israel's agricultural know-how for a long period of time.

"GDP per capita is $22 000 in Israel and this shows the country's enormous experiences in food security. Although Israel's geographical position is so favorable enough, it makes rapid progress thanks to the proper and efficient use of resources, knowledge and technology", he underlined.

According to him, the use of Israel's technology would allow further strengthening Azeri producers' market position. The experience in agriculture, which we are unable to obtain from Europe, we can get from Israel," he said.

The Deputy Minister added that Azerbaijan Investment Company stands ready to participate in joint projects between the two countries.

On the sidelines of the forum, Israeli and Azeri businessmen will have bilateral meetings.

The trade turnover between Azerbaijan and Israel totaled $400 million in 2007.