An Azerbaijan-Latvia business forum took place here, with Presidents Ilham Aliyev of Azerbaijan and Valdis Zatlers of Latvia in attendance.
The business forum brought together a total of 200 businessmen to explore prospects for building effective cooperation in different fields of economy and increase the bilateral trade.
The Azerbaijani and Latvian presidents made speeches at the event.
President Zatlers said previous joint forums marked the establishment of fruitful relations between the two countries.
"As a result we implemented a number of projects. And this mutually-fruitful cooperation is based on effective political collaboration."
The Latvian leader stressed the importance of his Azerbaijani counterpart`s visit to Riga, saying it was "an evidence to the expansion of our countries` relations".
"And our cooperation will further develop on the basis of the declaration that the two leaders signed during this visit," he added.
The Latvian leader praised the bilateral relations, saying they were developing in a variety of fields, in particular the information and communication technologies and culture.
President Aliyev praised the event, saying "the Latvia-Azerbaijan forums have already become traditional in nature".
"We have a wide potential to develop the bilateral economic relations. Our political relations and cooperation trends existing between Azerbaijan and Latvia create beautiful conditions for development in the business sector."
The Azerbaijani leader praised the joint declaration, saying it defines prospects for future cooperation.
President Aliyev also highlighted Azerbaijan`s economic successes.
"In the last seven years, Azerbaijan`s Gross Domestic Product increased 3-fold, while the poverty level decreased 4-5 times and 900,000 jobs were created. Last year alone saw 15.5 billion dollars invested in the country."
The President praised the country`s "favourable investment climate", saying efforts were underway to diversify the economy.
President Aliyev said "Azerbaijan itself is already making investment abroad".
The Head of State touched upon the Azerbaijan-European Union relations. He said an important deal was signed during a recent visit by the European Commission`s president Jose Manuel Barroso to Baku.
President Aliyev praised Latvia`s contribution to Azerbaijan`s relations with the European Union.
The Azerbaijani leader also touched upon the relations among the Caspian littoral states and Baltic countries, stressing the importance of transport projects.
"The construction of the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railrod is of great importance here."
President Aliyev expressed confidence the business forum would be a success in future.
The forum featured the signing of several documents on cooperation in business sector and investment making, and also the excnahge of presentations on both countries` economy and investment opportunities.
Also as part of the business forum, Presidents Aliyev and Zatlers viewed an exhibition of products manufactured in Azerbaijan and Latvia.

AzerTAc  

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