|
World Jewish News
Azerbaijan Offers jobs for Dismissed Israelis
19.05.2009
In Tel Aviv, an Israeli-Azerbaijani business forum initiated by the Ambassador of Israel in Baku Arthur Lenkom has opened. On May 18, an agreement on cooperation was signed by the Israeli Export Institute and the Foundation for export promotion and investment of Azerbaijan AzPromo.
In the evening of May 18, for the first time in the history of bilateral relations, the Israeli-Azerbaijani business forum took place in Israel. Exactly one year ago a similar event, with the participation of the Minister of Agriculture Shalom Simchon, was held in Baku.
This time the businessmen and government officials of Azerbaijan arrived in Tel Aviv, met with local businessmen, employees of the Israel Export Institute, diplomats. The Forum was attended by the Secretary-General of the "Israel
Beiteinu" ("Our Home Israel") political party, member of the Knesset Faina Kirshenbaum, who has recently been active in promoting relations with the Muslim republics of the CIS.
Currently, there are 165 Israeli companies in Azerbaijan; Israel is the third largest foreign trade partner of this South Caucasian republic; over the past year, imports from Azerbaijan to Israel amounted to around 3.5 billion dollars,
mainly due to crude oil and petroleum products - 25% of "black gold" consumed by the Israeli market comes from Azerbaijan.
According to the Chairman of the Export and Investment Promotion Foundation of Azerbaijan (AzPromo) Rahim Huseynov, the rapidly developing economy of the republic does not have enough skilled workers in the most promising sectors: "We hope to attract to our country Israeli science, agricultural technology, experts in the field of information technologies and telecommunications."
Huseynov added that he heard about the massive layoffs of highly skilled labour force in Israel, and invited specialists, who had lost their jobs, to come to Azerbaijan to help in the training of local personnel.
Advisor to the Chairman of AzPromo Elshan Gurbanov told that in Baku, a strong wind is blowing for a hundred or more days a year, so the Israeli developments in the field of wind turbines, as well as solar panels can come in very handy.
"In 2005 we bought Israeli products for 5.4 million, in 2008 - for 129 million. We hope that our business relationship will grow even stronger, and the turnover
will increase," stressed Gurbanov. "We see Israel as a real comrade, and a business partner".
The Ambassador of Israel in Baku Arthur Lenk expressed his satisfaction with the arrival of high-ranking officials from Azerbaijan. "This is another step towards the development of the bilateral partnership, which will probably move to a higher level after the visit of President Shimon Peres to Baku." Lenk said that
while "this Muslim country borders on Iran, its leader, Ilham Aliyev, is willing to provide the most honorable reception for the President of Israel." The diplomat expressed hope that over time Azerbaijan will open its embassy in Israel. In turn, the Head of the Israeli Export Institute David Artzi wished the participants of the business forum to meet next year in the Azeri capital. The
nearest team-mate of the Foreign Ministers Avigdor Lieberman in the "Our Home Israel" party Faina Kirshenbaum added: "The forum serves as a model of interaction between the countries that have not yet reached the full level of
diplomatic relations, but thanks to the variety of approaches, are successfully promoting economic cooperation."
The forum was also attended by the future Ambassador of Israel in Baku Michael Lotem, Head of the 3rd Economic Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Gil Haskel, the Chairman of the Israel-Kazakhstan Chamber of Commerce Michael Roe.
|
|
