The Czech Republic is eager to conclude mid-term and long-term agreements with the State Oil Company of Azerbaijan (SOCAR) on the gas supply from Azerbaijan, Jozef Sikela, Czech Minister of Industry and Trade.
"Primarily, the Czech Republic is interested in getting access to Azerbaijani gas. Your country is already known in Europe as a reliable energy supplier. And, now, when we have managed to reduce our supplies from Russia down to zero within 10 month, we are rebuilding our supply chain. Here Azerbaijan can be of great contribution, considering the positive cooperation we have already had," he said.
Minister Sikela also noted that Azerbaijan has great potential in production of green hydrogen and green ammonia. Here Czech companies can also highly contribute with their experience.
"During our talks with Azerbaijani officials we have agreed to hold the next steering committee meeting in Baku, and we plan to bring a big delegation of Czech businessmen with us to discuss future opportunities for cooperation," the minister added.
As the minister pointed out, in general, the business volume between the two countries has increased significantly over recent years.
"There was a huge increase observed in exports from Azerbaijan to the Czech Republic – 145 percent. Czech exports to Azerbaijan, in turn, were slightly lower – increasing by around 50 percent. During our talks with Azerbaijani officials we have agreed to hold the next steering committee meeting in Baku, and we plan to bring a big delegation of Czech businessmen with us to discuss future opportunities for cooperation," the minister noted.
Meanwhile, Czech imports from Azerbaijan consist of oil (nearly 25 percent of all oil import to the Czech Republic), cotton, dry fruits, and nuts. In the first quarter of this year, trade turnover between the two countries amounted to $293 million, of which $270.78 million (5.49 percent) fell on export to the Czech Republic, and $22.8 million - imports (2.81 percent).
https://en.trend.az/azerbaijan/business/3762289.html