The Azerbaijani-Iranian intergovernmental commission for trade-economic and humanitarian cooperation held its 9th session last week, Azerbaijanskiye Novosti states.
Azerbaijani Minister for Economy and Industry Shakhin Mustafayev noted at the session of the commission that Iran had invested $382 million in the main capital of Azerbaijan, $105 million of it into the non-petroleum sector. Iran invested $158 million in main capital in 2013. 441 companies with Iranian capital operate in Azerbaijan. There is great potential for extension of economic cooperation.
According to the paper, Baku and Tehran set priorities for realization of their trade-economic potential in the two-day talks. The sides agreed to develop cooperation in oil-refinement and petrochemistry. Azerbaijan will increase volumes of gas exported to Iran and swap operations to send Azerbaijani gas to the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic through Iran. In the sector of electricity, the sides want to expand cooperation in transit and exchange of electricity, dam construction on border rivers, exploitation of the River Araz on their border. Baku and Tehran plan to speed up launch of the North-South railway corridor and expand cooperation in maritime navigation, customs, tourism, science and research, information and communication technologies, agriculture.
Mahmoud Vaezi, the Iranian Minister for Communications and Information Technologies, the Iranian co-chair of the commission, said that signing of the cooperation document opened a new page in relations of the two states. “The meeting is important for the business sector too. 60 representatives of the Iranian private sector arriving in Baku have had very fruitful negotiations with their Azerbaijani counterparts,” he said.
The Iranian delegation visited the Sumgayit Technological Park and the Gilan Textile Park, observed construction of the Chemical Industrial Park in Sumgayit. The two-day meetings were concluded by a business forum of Azerbaijani and Iranian entrepreneurs.
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“Kabardino-Balkaria may take an active part in import displacement of fruit raw materials, says Kabardino-Balkarian Minister for Agriculture Muhamed Shakhmurzov in his article published by the Kabardino-Balkarskaya Pravda paper.
About 7,000 of fruit plantings were made in the region in the last 6 months. 3,000 hectares are the intensive type. According to the state program for agricultural development in Kabardino-Balkaria, Kabardino-Balkaria plants at least 1,000 hectares of permanent crops every year. This year, the republic will collect about 130,000 tons of fruit products, the population consumes an average of 85,000-90,000 tons of fruits and berries a year. The prices for the products are falling.
The republic develops open and protected vegetable growth. Kabardino-Balkaria collected 346,000 tons of vegetables at an annual consumption volume of 120,000. This year, it expects to collect 373,000 tons. Harvests will further increase in the future. The republic has its own base for development of the sector.
The region produced about 42 million cans with peas in six months, exceeding the output of the same period in 2013 by 175%. Production of canned pickles exceeded 10 million, about 6 times more than in January-June 2013.
Zelenaya Kompaniya in Nalchik launched a new factory of canned food. The factory will start producing 120 million cans a year in 2017. It will produce canned green peas, sweet corn and beans using its own raw materials. A modern complex for growing, storage, procession, packing and selling 75,000 tons of fresh vegetables and potatoes a year will be launched in the Prokhladnensky District at the end of the year. Carrots, potatoes, onions, cabbage and beet will be the main products grown using advanced technologies.
Shakhmurzov noted that large trade networks were reluctant to cooperate with small and medium-sized business and suppliers of small portions of agricultural products. That is why supermarkets import vegetables and fruits. The situation, in the minister’s words, could increase sales of national products.
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According to The Georgian Times, Georgia exported about 26.9 million bottles (0.75 liters each) to 34 countries in six months this year, exceeding the same period in 2013 by 136%. 66% of the wine was exported to Russia (17.9 million bottles of wine and 2.1 million bottles of brandy).
According to Business-Georgia, 2258 tons of fruits, about 80 tons of vegetables, 2567 tons of citruses, 188 tons of tea, 1062 tons of bay leaf, 1 ton of dry spices were exported to Russia this year. Bilberries, tea, nuts, tangerines, lemon, fruit tea, concentrated tangerine juices, natural fruit juices, tomatoes, bay leaves, trigonella, young potatoes, apples, cherries, nectarines and peaches were exported to the Russian market.
The National Food Agency reported that exporters had opportunities to get all the necessary documents in a simplified order. Specialists of the agency carry out phytosanitary control over exported products and hand certificates. Agriculture Minister Otar Danelia noted, commenting on Russia’s restriction on exports of agricultural products: “Concerning the exports, we see nothing alarming about it, we still have good communication with phytosanitary and other agencies of Rosselkhoznadzor.” The minister emphasized that Georgian products were in high demand on the Russian market and many kinds of it were in the premium segment. This is why, in his opinion, it is logical to expect further increases of Georgian exports to Russia.
The minister says that the market is free, it has its own area of actions and partnership relations with different countries. “Evidently, if anything was ever closed for Georgia, it opened for others. I think that morals have nothing to do with this, they are simple trade and market relations,” clarified Danelia.
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The Nuzhnaya Gazeta paper of Abkhazia reports that the candidate for president Raul Khajimba, describing prospects of Russian-Georgian cooperation, said that a new Russian-Abkhaz strategic partnership agreement was needed.
One of the main goals of the new Abkhaz authorities, he said, will be to strengthen the sovereignty and security of the country. The issues include security, protection of the state border, expansion of economic ties. The problems can only be solved by closely cooperating with Russia. The integration of Georgia into NATO, the rise in tensions in post-Soviet space should be taken into account. “Despite the fact that we are a small country, we have opportunities to become a full-fledged element of the collective security system formed in Russia. It will improve the quality of our law enforcers, in terms of training and material-technical support. We are interested in lifting the barriers on the Russian-Abkhaz border that hinder movement of people, products and services. The problem could only be solved parallel to strengthening security of the border with Georgia, the candidate for president emphasized. He expressed confidence that Russia will help build the real sector of the Abkhaz economy and improve standards of social support of the population. In order to realize the program, he believes that the country needs a new Russian-Abkhaz strategic partnership agreement that should be signed before the end of the year.
Abkhazia will hold early presidential polls on August 24, 2014. The elections were set after a long political crisis that resulted in the resignation of President Alexander Ankvab and the executive authorities. Raul Khajimba is the only one of the four candidates for president representing the opposition. Other candidates collected less than 2,000 signatures each.
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Karachay-Cherkessia chose the best project of the Place of Lovers Complex that will be built at the Zeleny Ostrov Park in Cherkessk, the Den Respubliki newspaper reports. Everyone could send designs of the complex for the “Create a place for lovers together” contest. There was no limit for designs. The rules were posted on the city’s website. They say that projects should be a picture drawn by pencil or paints or should be a design layout made on computer. Using popular symbols of love and marriage and Caucasus elements (cups, eagles, pairs dancing the Lezginka) was especially welcome. Organizers of the contest expect the complex to be one of the most popular places for loving couples to meet or visit during the wedding.
Judges consisted of officials of the Cherkessk Mayor’s Office, professional architects, builders and artists. 5 out of over 40 sketches were picked. Residents of Karachay-Cherkessia aged 6 or more voted by making telephone calls. The Waterfall of Lovers and the Family Hearth got most votes, the rating between them differs in just 3 votes. According to Cherkessk Mayor Ruslan Tambiyev, the difference is insignificant, so both projects will be merged. The construction will start this year.
Caucasus domestic and foreign political events in the local pressThe Azerbaijani-Iranian intergovernmental commission for trade-economic and humanitarian cooperation held its 9th session last week, Azerbaijanskiye Novosti states.Azerbaijani Minister for Economy and Industry Shakhin Mustafayev noted at the session of the commission that Iran had invested $382 million in the main capital of Azerbaijan, $105 million of it into the non-petroleum sector. Iran invested $158 million in main capital in 2013. 441 companies with Iranian capital operate in Azerbaijan. There is great potential for extension of economic cooperation.According to the paper, Baku and Tehran set priorities for realization of their trade-economic potential in the two-day talks. The sides agreed to develop cooperation in oil-refinement and petrochemistry. Azerbaijan will increase volumes of gas exported to Iran and swap operations to send Azerbaijani gas to the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic through Iran. In the sector of electricity, the sides want to expand cooperation in transit and exchange of electricity, dam construction on border rivers, exploitation of the River Araz on their border. Baku and Tehran plan to speed up launch of the North-South railway corridor and expand cooperation in maritime navigation, customs, tourism, science and research, information and communication technologies, agriculture.Mahmoud Vaezi, the Iranian Minister for Communications and Information Technologies, the Iranian co-chair of the commission, said that signing of the cooperation document opened a new page in relations of the two states. “The meeting is important for the business sector too. 60 representatives of the Iranian private sector arriving in Baku have had very fruitful negotiations with their Azerbaijani counterparts,” he said.The Iranian delegation visited the Sumgayit Technological Park and the Gilan Textile Park, observed construction of the Chemical Industrial Park in Sumgayit. The two-day meetings were concluded by a business forum of Azerbaijani and Iranian entrepreneurs.* * *“Kabardino-Balkaria may take an active part in import displacement of fruit raw materials, says Kabardino-Balkarian Minister for Agriculture Muhamed Shakhmurzov in his article published by the Kabardino-Balkarskaya Pravda paper.About 7,000 of fruit plantings were made in the region in the last 6 months. 3,000 hectares are the intensive type. According to the state program for agricultural development in Kabardino-Balkaria, Kabardino-Balkaria plants at least 1,000 hectares of permanent crops every year. This year, the republic will collect about 130,000 tons of fruit products, the population consumes an average of 85,000-90,000 tons of fruits and berries a year. The prices for the products are falling.The republic develops open and protected vegetable growth. Kabardino-Balkaria collected 346,000 tons of vegetables at an annual consumption volume of 120,000. This year, it expects to collect 373,000 tons. Harvests will further increase in the future. The republic has its own base for development of the sector.The region produced about 42 million cans with peas in six months, exceeding the output of the same period in 2013 by 175%. Production of canned pickles exceeded 10 million, about 6 times more than in January-June 2013.Zelenaya Kompaniya in Nalchik launched a new factory of canned food. The factory will start producing 120 million cans a year in 2017. It will produce canned green peas, sweet corn and beans using its own raw materials. A modern complex for growing, storage, procession, packing and selling 75,000 tons of fresh vegetables and potatoes a year will be launched in the Prokhladnensky District at the end of the year. Carrots, potatoes, onions, cabbage and beet will be the main products grown using advanced technologies.Shakhmurzov noted that large trade networks were reluctant to cooperate with small and medium-sized business and suppliers of small portions of agricultural products. That is why supermarkets import vegetables and fruits. The situation, in the minister’s words, could increase sales of national products.* * *According to The Georgian Times, Georgia exported about 26.9 million bottles (0.75 liters each) to 34 countries in six months this year, exceeding the same period in 2013 by 136%. 66% of the wine was exported to Russia (17.9 million bottles of wine and 2.1 million bottles of brandy).According to Business-Georgia, 2258 tons of fruits, about 80 tons of vegetables, 2567 tons of citruses, 188 tons of tea, 1062 tons of bay leaf, 1 ton of dry spices were exported to Russia this year. Bilberries, tea, nuts, tangerines, lemon, fruit tea, concentrated tangerine juices, natural fruit juices, tomatoes, bay leaves, trigonella, young potatoes, apples, cherries, nectarines and peaches were exported to the Russian market.The National Food Agency reported that exporters had opportunities to get all the necessary documents in a simplified order. Specialists of the agency carry out phytosanitary control over exported products and hand certificates. Agriculture Minister Otar Danelia noted, commenting on Russia’s restriction on exports of agricultural products: “Concerning the exports, we see nothing alarming about it, we still have good communication with phytosanitary and other agencies of Rosselkhoznadzor.” The minister emphasized that Georgian products were in high demand on the Russian market and many kinds of it were in the premium segment. This is why, in his opinion, it is logical to expect further increases of Georgian exports to Russia.The minister says that the market is free, it has its own area of actions and partnership relations with different countries. “Evidently, if anything was ever closed for Georgia, it opened for others. I think that morals have nothing to do with this, they are simple trade and market relations,” clarified Danelia.* * *The Nuzhnaya Gazeta paper of Abkhazia reports that the candidate for president Raul Khajimba, describing prospects of Russian-Georgian cooperation, said that a new Russian-Abkhaz strategic partnership agreement was needed.One of the main goals of the new Abkhaz authorities, he said, will be to strengthen the sovereignty and security of the country. The issues include security, protection of the state border, expansion of economic ties. The problems can only be solved by closely cooperating with Russia. The integration of Georgia into NATO, the rise in tensions in post-Soviet space should be taken into account. “Despite the fact that we are a small country, we have opportunities to become a full-fledged element of the collective security system formed in Russia. It will improve the quality of our law enforcers, in terms of training and material-technical support. We are interested in lifting the barriers on the Russian-Abkhaz border that hinder movement of people, products and services. The problem could only be solved parallel to strengthening security of the border with Georgia, the candidate for president emphasized. He expressed confidence that Russia will help build the real sector of the Abkhaz economy and improve standards of social support of the population. In order to realize the program, he believes that the country needs a new Russian-Abkhaz strategic partnership agreement that should be signed before the end of the year.Abkhazia will hold early presidential polls on August 24, 2014. The elections were set after a long political crisis that resulted in the resignation of President Alexander Ankvab and the executive authorities. Raul Khajimba is the only one of the four candidates for president representing the opposition. Other candidates collected less than 2,000 signatures each.* * *Karachay-Cherkessia chose the best project of the Place of Lovers Complex that will be built at the Zeleny Ostrov Park in Cherkessk, the Den Respubliki newspaper reports. Everyone could send designs of the complex for the “Create a place for lovers together” contest. There was no limit for designs. The rules were posted on the city’s website. They say that projects should be a picture drawn by pencil or paints or should be a design layout made on computer. Using popular symbols of love and marriage and Caucasus elements (cups, eagles, pairs dancing the Lezginka) was especially welcome. Organizers of the contest expect the complex to be one of the most popular places for loving couples to meet or visit during the wedding.Judges consisted of officials of the Cherkessk Mayor’s Office, professional architects, builders and artists. 5 out of over 40 sketches were picked. Residents of Karachay-Cherkessia aged 6 or more voted by making telephone calls. The Waterfall of Lovers and the Family Hearth got most votes, the rating between them differs in just 3 votes. According to Cherkessk Mayor Ruslan Tambiyev, the difference is insignificant, so both projects will be merged. The construction will start this ye
