Azerbaijan and Serbia become strategic partners

Azerbaijan and Serbia will sign an intergovernmental agreement on

strategic cooperation. This was stated by Serbian Deputy Prime

Minister, Minister of Foreign and Home Trade and Telecommunications

Rasim Ljajic during a speech at the Azerbaijani-Serbian business

forum in Baku on Monday, Trend reports.

"Relations between Azerbaijan and Serbia have reached the level of

strategic cooperation. Signing of an agreement on strategic

development is expected during the visit of Serbian President Tomislav

Nikolic to Baku in the second half of February 2013," Ljajich said.

According to him, Azerbaijan and Serbia have signed 21 bilateral

agreements since 2009.

"There is a good legal framework and environment for increasing the

volume of bilateral trade and investment. Political relations are at

the highest level," Ljajich said.

Ljajich invited Azerbaijani businessmen to participate in projects in

Serbia, noting that there is a very favourable environment for foreign

investors in the country.

In Ljajich's words, in addition, the work of Azerbaijani and Serbian

company consortiums is promising, not only in these two countries, but

also in third countries"

A meeting of the Azerbaijani-Serbian Intergovernmental Commission on

economic cooperation, co-chaired by Rasim Ljajich from the Serbian

side, will take place tomorrow.

The business forum is supported by the Azerbaijani Ministry of

Economic Development and the Azerbaijan Export and Investment Promotion

Fund (AZPROMO). The event will be attended by about 90 entrepreneurs

operating in the areas of agriculture, construction, food processing,

tourism, engineering, and other fields.

According to the State Customs Committee, trade turnover between

Azerbaijan and Serbia amounted to $21.24 million in January-September,

with the share of imports at $21.22 million