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The Daily Gleaner (New Brunswick)
July 29, 2011 Friday
Azerbaijani ambassador eyes N.B. partnerships
by MICHAEL STAPLES [email protected]
Bilateral trade and investment opportunities are priorities for Farid
Shafiyev as he wraps up a two-day official visit to Fredericton.
The ambassador of the Republic of Azerbaijan said he would like to see
opportunities in construction, energy and agriculture explored and
developed over the coming months and years.
"I think the visits of businesspeople and government people from
Azerbaijan and vice-versa can help," Shafiyev said in an interview.
The ambassador said New Brunswick is one of his country's largest
trade partners, especially when it comes to energy.
In 2010, New Brunswick companies purchased around $300 million worth
of oil from Azerbaijan, $500 million in 2009 and about $1 billion in
2008, he said.
But while energy may be the main engine of Azerbaijan's economy,
Shafiyev said, his government has also identified agriculture as a
priority, and that's where New Brunswick comes in.
"I am trying to explore any opportunity on how Azerbaijan can enlarge
(and) enhance its capacity in agriculture and how New Brunswick comes
into that picture."
Potato seeds and how the starchy tubers are grown are of particular
interest to his country, the ambassador said.
During his visit, Shafiyev visited the provincial Department of
Agriculture, Aquaculture and Fisheries' Plant Propagation Centre,
which, among other things, produces nuclear stock plantlets and
microtubers, the basis for New Brunswick's seed potato industry.
Shafiyev said he isn't looking to sign any agreements at this time and
is instead viewing his visit as a "reconnaissance mission."
In the future, he said, he's hopeful that either he or other officials
will return and explore matters further.
During his visit, Shafiyev met with both Agriculture, Aquaculture and
Fisheries Minister Michael Olscamp and Energy Minister Craig Leonard.
"The minister and the ambassador ... had a great discussion about our
respective energy sectors," Energy Department spokesman Brent Staeben
said.
"Azerbaijan is an increasingly significant oil and gas producer and
has outperformed other former Soviet states in economic growth since
their independence from the Soviet Union and New Brunswick is a
customer ... On energy issues, the ambassador was interested in our
energy efficiency program and alternative energy experiences."
With regard to investment, Shafiyev said there are huge opportunities
available in both directions.
Shafiyev said Azerbaijan - bordered by Russia to the north, Georgia to
the northwest and Armenia to the west - has had an oil fund since
1999.
While its purpose is to save money for future generations, it's also
being used for different investments abroad.
"For the past three or four years Azerbaijan has invested in different
projects in surrounding countries - Georgia, Turkey, Moldova," he
said.
"But in the future, it might make investment in other countries. I see
in Canada, there is huge potential for that and is very stable from an
economic and financial point of view."
July 29, 2011 Friday
Azerbaijani ambassador eyes N.B. partnerships
by MICHAEL STAPLES [email protected]
Bilateral trade and investment opportunities are priorities for Farid
Shafiyev as he wraps up a two-day official visit to Fredericton.
The ambassador of the Republic of Azerbaijan said he would like to see
opportunities in construction, energy and agriculture explored and
developed over the coming months and years.
"I think the visits of businesspeople and government people from
Azerbaijan and vice-versa can help," Shafiyev said in an interview.
The ambassador said New Brunswick is one of his country's largest
trade partners, especially when it comes to energy.
In 2010, New Brunswick companies purchased around $300 million worth
of oil from Azerbaijan, $500 million in 2009 and about $1 billion in
2008, he said.
But while energy may be the main engine of Azerbaijan's economy,
Shafiyev said, his government has also identified agriculture as a
priority, and that's where New Brunswick comes in.
"I am trying to explore any opportunity on how Azerbaijan can enlarge
(and) enhance its capacity in agriculture and how New Brunswick comes
into that picture."
Potato seeds and how the starchy tubers are grown are of particular
interest to his country, the ambassador said.
During his visit, Shafiyev visited the provincial Department of
Agriculture, Aquaculture and Fisheries' Plant Propagation Centre,
which, among other things, produces nuclear stock plantlets and
microtubers, the basis for New Brunswick's seed potato industry.
Shafiyev said he isn't looking to sign any agreements at this time and
is instead viewing his visit as a "reconnaissance mission."
In the future, he said, he's hopeful that either he or other officials
will return and explore matters further.
During his visit, Shafiyev met with both Agriculture, Aquaculture and
Fisheries Minister Michael Olscamp and Energy Minister Craig Leonard.
"The minister and the ambassador ... had a great discussion about our
respective energy sectors," Energy Department spokesman Brent Staeben
said.
"Azerbaijan is an increasingly significant oil and gas producer and
has outperformed other former Soviet states in economic growth since
their independence from the Soviet Union and New Brunswick is a
customer ... On energy issues, the ambassador was interested in our
energy efficiency program and alternative energy experiences."
With regard to investment, Shafiyev said there are huge opportunities
available in both directions.
Shafiyev said Azerbaijan - bordered by Russia to the north, Georgia to
the northwest and Armenia to the west - has had an oil fund since
1999.
While its purpose is to save money for future generations, it's also
being used for different investments abroad.
"For the past three or four years Azerbaijan has invested in different
projects in surrounding countries - Georgia, Turkey, Moldova," he
said.
"But in the future, it might make investment in other countries. I see
in Canada, there is huge potential for that and is very stable from an
economic and financial point of view."