Business news

The Ambassador went to Grodno Oblast to discuss possible avenues of economic cooperation between this region of Belarus and Azerbaijan. The delivery of raw tobacco to the Grodno-based tobacco factory Neman is high on the agenda. The relevant negotiations will be held with representatives of the Economy Ministry in the next few days. “We also intend to consider the organization of Azerbaijani wine bottling at a Grodno Oblast enterprise. Other projects in the processing industry also look interesting,” said Latif Gandilov.

The Grodno Oblast Governor remarked that this region of Belarus and Azerbaijan had developed very good relations on the whole and their effect on economic relations had been good. Many Grodno Oblast enterprises sell their products to Azerbaijan. There is a trading house in Baku. According to the Grodno Oblast Governor, selling more meat and dairy products as well as woodworking industry products looks promising and mutually beneficial. Azerbaijani companies buy Belarusian fiberboards and furniture to sell them domestically and in neighboring countries. The tobacco factory Neman maintains tight cooperation with Azerbaijan. As far as the bottling of Azerbaijani wines and cognacs in Belarus is concerned, it can be done in several ways. A glass factory in Grodno makes fitting containers. The wines can be bottled using distilleries in Grodno or Dyatlovo.

During the meeting the sides also discussed prospects of cooperation in tourism and culture as well as investment cooperation.

In 2016 trade between Grodno Oblast and Azerbaijan totaled $5.2 million, 96.4% as against 2015. Merchandise export earned over $4 million. The main exports were fiberboards and particle boards, cooking utensils, ethyl alcohol, furniture and its parts, sausages and meat products, butter, potato, cranes, valves and faucets. Only raw tobacco was imported. In Grodno Oblast there are six companies with a share of Azerbaijani capital. They are primarily concentrated in the services sphere and restaurant business.