Ilham Aliyev invited Israeli companies to Alyat economic zone and offered SOCAR to produce oil in Israel /UPDATED/

In a meeting with Israeli FM Eli Cohen, Ilham Aliyev highly appreciated Azerbaijani-Israeli relations at a political level. He called the opening of Azerbaijan's Embassy in Israel an indicator of the level of these relations based on friendship, mutual trust, respect and support.

Aliyev said that the bilateral cooperation agenda is expanding and the Joint Intergovernmental Commission plays an important role in this. Azerbaijan is undergoing economic modernisation and the exchange of experiences in the field of technology, including the concepts of green energy and smart cities, is important.

In particular Aliyev informed about "Alyat Free Economic Zone" and invited Israeli companies there. He also emphasized the importance of SOCAR's participation in the development of hydrocarbon resources in Israel.

Highly evaluating the opening of Azerbaijan's Embassy in Israel and expressing a hope that it will contribute to the establishment of strategic relations between the two countries, the Israeli Foreign Minister stressed the strategic nature of relations between Israel and Azerbaijan.

Emphasizing that he had visited Azerbaijan with a large delegation, the Israeli Foreign Minister touched upon the relations in the field of tourism saying that the number of tourists coming to Azerbaijan from his country was increasing. He said that there is a growth rate of trade turnover between our countries and stated that there is ample opportunity for its further increase.

It was emphasized at the meeting that there are wide opportunities to develop cooperation in economy, energy, agriculture, renewable energy, investments, science, education, culture, tourism, security and other spheres. It was also noted that the experience of Israel in the management of water resources and desalination of sea water, the prevention of desertification, the development of agriculture in deserts and semi-deserts is of interest for Azerbaijan. -0-

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2023 April 19 (Wednesday) 11:50:36

I.Aliyev and E. Cohen discussed issues of security and economic cooperation

Baku/19.04.23/Turan: On April 19, Ilham Aliyev received Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen, who is on an official visit to Baku.

"A great meeting with the President of Azerbaijan. We discussed the fight against terrorism, the expansion of security and the economic cooperation between our countries.

I congratulated the President on his decision to open an Embassy in Israel, the first ever Embassy of a Shiite Muslim country. This testifies to the high respect of the state of Israel in the world," Cohen wrote on his Twitter account following the meeting.

To remind, the Israeli Foreign Minister arrived in Baku on April 18. On the same day, he held a meeting with Economy Minister Mikail Jabbarov.

"The opening of the Azerbaijani Embassy in Israel shows that bilateral relations have reached a new stage. The Azerbaijan-Israel Joint Intergovernmental Commission, as well as the Trade Representation of Azerbaijan in Israel, are important platforms for the development of partnership between the two countries.

Israel is one of Azerbaijan's main trading partners. Mutual investments with Israel include energy, agriculture, information technology, innovation, pharmaceuticals, tourism and others."

"Cooperation with Israel in the field of innovative development and digital economy is of particular importance for Azerbaijan," Jabbarov said.

In turn, Eli Cohen noted that his country attaches great importance to the expansion of relations with Azerbaijan, Israeli companies are interested in partnership in various fields, and emphasized that there are ample opportunities for strengthening cooperation.

Then Eli Cohen met with members of the Jewish community in a synagogue in Baku. "Azerbaijan is a country that has always respected Jewish communities, and the relations between our peoples are deep.

I am glad to see the opening of the Azerbaijani Embassy in Israel, which is a symbol of a new stage in relations, and I told the members of the community that Israel will always be their home," Cohen wrote on Twitter. -16D-