The Czech companies consider the Azerbaijani market as an alternative to the Russian market amid the EU sanctions towards Russia. Minister of Industry and Trade of the Czech Republic Jan Mladek intends to discuss the cooperation prospects in this area during his upcoming visit to Azerbaijan in early December, Azerbaijani ambassador to the Czech Republic Farid Shafiyev told.

He said that the Czech Republic is interested in import of agricultural products from Azerbaijan, especially fruits and vegetables, as well as wine and confectionery.

The cooperation opportunities in this area were discussed by Deputy Chairman of the Chamber of Deputies of the Czech Parliament Vojtech Filip and Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on Agriculture Jaroslav Faltýnek during the recent visit to Azerbaijan.

“Today agriculture is a priority area of the non-oil sector of Azerbaijan,” the diplomat said. “A growing number of the Czech companies show interest in cooperation in this field.”

During the upcoming visit to Azerbaijan, Mladek will be accompanied by about 40 representatives of business circles of the country.

The Republic of Azerbaijan and the Czech Republic successfully cooperate in trade and economic sphere. In particular, as of 2013, the trade turnover between the two countries amounted to about $ 1.5 billion. Most of this account for Azerbaijan's exports, in particular, oil. Currently, the primary task is to develop the cooperation between the two countries in the non-oil sector. The agricultural sector is an area with good opportunities for cooperation.

According to the State Statistics Committee, the trade turnover between the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Czech Republic amounted to $515.51 million in January-September 2014. As of the nine months, Azerbaijan imported goods worth $35.1 million, but exported goods worth $ 480.4 million.