BAKU, Azerbaijan, July 25. Azerbaijan and Serbia have outlined steps to develop ties in the non-oil sector, Trend reports.
According to the text of the Protocol signed on July 25 in Baku on the results of the 8th session of the intergovernmental commission on trade and economic cooperation, agriculture, pharmaceuticals, metrology, and social protection are among the priorities in the non-oil sphere.
“An Azerbaijan-Serbia working group on agriculture will be established, which may hold its first meeting within 2024–25,” the document noted.
Serbia and Azerbaijan also plan to cooperate in viticulture (the creation of productive grape varieties and their cultivation).
“The parties agreed to invite agricultural companies to exhibitions and fairs held in both states. Also, the parties should clarify information on agricultural products with export potential, and trade in such products will increase trade turnover between the countries,” the Protocol states.
Moreover, Azerbaijan and Serbia agreed to establish working groups to exchange experience in the fields of labor and employment, disability assessment, and social benefits, as well as in the provision of social protection services.
“The Azerbaijani side is ready to share its experience in the provision of social services (experience of the Agency for Sustainable and Operational Social Security, DOST), as well as in the digitalization of pensions and social payments. Also, both sides will seek to share experience in the field of improving the situation of persons with disabilities,” the document noted.
Regarding the development of small and medium-sized enterprises, Azerbaijan and Serbia pointed out the importance of cooperation in this field.
“There is already a Memorandum of Understanding between the Small and Medium Business Development Agency of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Development Agency of Serbia. Now a roadmap for its implementation is being prepared,” the Protocol informs.
AZPROMO has been entrusted to promote the export of products manufactured in Azerbaijan's industrial zones to the Serbian market.
“Joint production of pharmaceuticals can be established in the industrial zones of Azerbaijan, for which purpose a study of the production capabilities of Serbian pharmaceutical companies will be conducted. The Serbian pharmaceutical industry is known worldwide, and discussions will be held on the organization of a joint venture with Serbian pharmaceutical companies in Azerbaijan,” the Protocol noted.
The sides also acknowledged that cooperation between national metrology institutes can improve and strengthen the quality of infrastructure systems in both countries.
“The Office of Measures and Precious Metals of the Republic of Serbia proposes to sign in the short term a document on scientific and technical cooperation with the Azerbaijan Metrology Institute, which will become the basis for joint future cooperation in the field of scientific and legal metrology,” the document informs.
To note, Serbia has been purchasing Azeri gas since January 2024 and earlier began purchasing Azerbaijani oil (through SOCAR tenders; shipment is made in Ceyhan).
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