The participation in the 46th annual session of the World Economic Forum in Davos was very productive for Azerbaijan, including arrangements with foreign companies and the positioning of the republic in the world market as a whole, Rovshan Ibrahimov and Farhad Amirbayov said in an interview with a correspondent of Vestnik Kavkaza, commenting on the results of Davos-2016.
The political scientist Rovshan Ibragimov drew attention to the visit of Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev to the forum. "Davos is a kind of non-profit organization which gathers outstanding people for an annual debate on the situation in the world economy. The fact that the President of Azerbaijan [it was his 9th visit] joined the Davos club of honorary members is remarkable," he said.
"There was a number of points which were interesting for the international community, given that Azerbaijan has faced a situation of a double devaluation of the manat for the first time since the adoption of the new currency 10 years ago. In particular, the participants wondered whether the State Oil Company of Azerbaijan (SOCAR) will be privatized. A specific answer was given: SOCAR will remain state property, because it is a strategic asset," Ibragimov recalled.
"In addition, a number of strategic aspects of the further development of the country was voiced by the President. First of all this concerns the non-oil sector, the government's further steps in this direction and new financial policy. In addition, the state will encourage new exports and search for new markets for Azerbaijani products," the expert added.
"It's about transportation and transit of goods via Azerbaijan, participation in the East-West and North-South international transport corridors. China has showed a particular interest in the East-West project, because it is consistent with its project 'One Belt, One Road'," Rovshan Ibragimov concluded.
Financial expert Farhad Amirbayov also drew attention to the active work of the Azerbaijani delegation. "We met with the leaders of countries that have innovative directions of their economies, such as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Talks with private financiers, bankers, representatives of the energy and industrial companies were also held. I think that we need to continue to hold intensive negotiations with international corporations and attract them to our country," he stressed.
"Davos is an intellectual platform, where influential people discuss conceptual issues of the world economy. Success here is not a commercial contract, but the achievement of certain agreements. Of course, the negotiations and contacts received by Azerbaijan in Davos will continue in the future, and eventually they will result in some legal agreements," Farhad Amirbayov concluded.
