ASK President made a speech at a meeting of the Heads of the CIS Chambers of Commerce and Industry

On September 8, President of the National Confederation of Entrepreneurs (Employers) of the Republic of Azerbaijan Mammad Musayev attended the online video conference of the Heads of the CIS Chambers of Commerce and Industry as a guest of honor.

Welcoming the guests, the President of the Confederation thanked the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Uzbekistan and its leadership Adham Ikramov for organizing this important event. Touching upon Azerbaijan’s cooperation with CIS countries, Musayev stressed the recent years of economic turnover.

Touching upon Azerbaijan’s cooperation with CIS countries, Musayev stressed that economic turnover has increased  in the recent years.

The ASK  President said that the trade turnover between the CIS countries and Azerbaijan in 2019 amounted to $ 4.610 billion. Azerbaijan exported $ 1.178 billion worth of goods to these countries and imported $ 3.433 billion worth of goods. The highest trade turnover among the CIS countries ($ 3.022 billion) was recorded with the Russian Federation. Stressing that Russia is the largest market for Azerbaijani agricultural products, Musayev said that the introduction of an effective bilateral trade regime between Azerbaijan and Russia has created more efficient opportunities for trade operations. Emphasizing the establishment of a free trade regime between Azerbaijan and other CIS countries, except Armenia, the President of the Confederation recalled that Azerbaijan also participates in the implementation of the CIS Economic Development Strategy.

Musayev gave detailed information about the support packages signed by President Ilham Aliyev to minimize the damage to the economy in connection with the COVID-19 pandemic, noting that a socio-economic support package worth 3.5 billion manat has been implemented to protect employment, macroeconomic and financial stability.

The President of the Confederation informed the participants of the video conference about the organization and its activities. The ASK represents Azerbaijani entrepreneurs in about 15 international organizations, including the International Organization of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs and the Black Sea Economic Cooperation Organization.

We believe that national economies, and especially enterprises, need to be prepared for the short-term and long-term consequences of the pandemic. “We offer adoption of measures to strengthen the economy, expand e-commerce between the CIS countries, joint preventive measures to ensure food security in member countries, as well as a special approach to the most affected areas, including tourism, transport, services, small and medium enterprises, to exchange experiences on different platforms for pandemic and post-pandemic periods,” he said.

In conclusion, Musayev wished success to the conference and success in future cooperation.

The reports of the chambers of commerce were heard at the conference and the reports were discussed.