REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- Azerbaijan can become Indonesia's export gateway to the European market, Saleh Husin, a representative from the Ministeri of Trade stated on the sidelines of the 98th commemoration of the Republic of Azerbaijan here, Monday night (May 23).
"Our featured products, such as crude palm oil, can be exported to the Eastern European market through Azerbaijan," he added.
Hence, the minister affirmed that Indonesia and Azerbaijan will enhance bilateral cooperation, especially in the trade sector.
Meanwhile, Azerbaijan's Ambassador to Indonesia, Tamerlan Karayev, remarked that both countries could implement a project together in the form of a joint venture.
The ambassador said until now, the country had imported Indonesia's products from other countries. He hoped direct imports without going through a third country will be realized soon to reduce the buying costs and to boost trading between Azerbaijan and Indonesia.
"We buy several Indonesian products indirectly. We buy the products from other countries, such as the United Arab Emirates. We buy furniture in large quantities from Dubai. Of course, this makes the transportation costs very high," he explained.
According to the ambassador, there is an opportunity to establish a joint venture between Indonesia and Azerbaijan.
"Indonesia can export semi-finished products to our country and then process them to create finished products in Azerbaijan. Thus, the products can be exported to other countries, such as Russia, Georgia, and Iran," Ambassador Karayev stated.
Karayev noted that a joint venture was possible as Indonesia had advanced technology in various fields, such as textiles and furniture.
"The quality of Indonesian products is much better than many others coming into Azerbaijan," he pointed out.
The ambassador remarked that the government of Azerbaijan will support cooperation between the two countries to boost economic growth.
"From our side, as the government, we will support by making investment in the joint venture. Our president has established a new policy to boost the non-oil sectors," he added.
