If a private sector representative has an inquiry regarding a work permit, he/she can contact hotline of the State Migration Service, the head of the State Migration Service (SMS), Vusal Huseynov said in his speech at the EU-Azerbaijan business forum June 5.

"We plan to establish a Consultation Council of the companies and organizations which operate in  Azerbaijan and employed foreign workers. The council will involve the representatives of the AmCham, Turkish Confederation of Businessmen, German-Azerbaijani Chamber of Commerce (AHK), BP and SOCAR. The council will allow providing foreign workers with work permits in terms of transparency and fairness", Vusal Huseynov added.

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EU Ambassador Jankauskas spoke about a 'momentum' in EU-Azerbaijan trade and investment relations: "There is work remaining to sustain this momentum, and there is certainly more potential: an improved business climate will attract more European investors and is also essential for the development of SMEs". Underscoring the significance of EU-Azerbaijan partnership and speaking about the achievements gained in Azerbaijan’s economic diversification agenda, Mr. Meredith of DG NEAR further stated: “The ongoing negotiations on a new ambitious agreement between the EU and Azerbaijan reconfirm our mutual interests. It has the potential to deepen our relations and for us to work together in the modernisation of Azerbaijan’s economy.”

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Over the past five years, the European Union (EU) countries have invested more than $15 billion in Azerbaijan's economy, Deputy Minister of Economy of Azerbaijan Rufat Mammadov said in his speech at the EU-Azerbaijan business forum June 5, Trend reported.

He noted that more than 1,500 European companies are currently operating in Azerbaijan.

"Economic cooperation between the EU and Azerbaijan is constantly improving. Last year, the trade turnover between the EU and Azerbaijan amounted to 9.4 billion euros, which account ted for 32 percent of the total trade turnover of Azerbaijan. In the four months of this year, the trade turnover amounted to $3.7 billion, which is 15 percent more than in the same period last year. Over the past five years, the EU has invested $ 15.3 billion in the country," Mammadov said.

The deputy minister noted that Azerbaijan is also an important partner of the EU in the energy sector.

"Azerbaijan provides five percent of the EU's oil needs. On May 29, we officially launched the Southern Gas Corridor project, which will provide Europe with Azerbaijani gas as well in the future," Mammadov said.

Mammadov noted that the parties continue to work on various cooperation programs, and since 1992 the EU has allocated about 600 million euros to Azerbaijan as technical support.

The deputy minister said Azerbaijan also pays great attention to the development of bilateral relations with the EU countries.

"Up to now, Azerbaijan has signed agreements on avoidance of double taxation with 24 EU countries, and agreements on promotion and protection of investments with 17 countries. There are intergovernmental commissions with 16 countries. In addition, we have already signed agreements on strategic partnership with nine EU countries," Mammadov said.

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The trade turnover between Azerbaijan and the European Union continues to grow every year, Chairman of the State Customs Committee of Azerbaijan Safar Mehdiyev said June 5 during his speech at the 4th EU-Azerbaijan business forum.

The head of the State Customs Committee noted that an increase is observed in both export and import operations between Azerbaijan and the EU this year.

"Over the past five months of 2018, the trade turnover between the EU and Azerbaijan exceeded $5 billion. At the same time, exports to the EU increased by five percent compared to the same period last year, amounting to $3.7 billion, and imports rose by 41 percent, amounting to $936 million," Mehdiyev said.

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