Prime Minister Andrej Babiš held talks in Azerbaijan on ways to secure gas supplies

Prime Minister Andrej Babiš began his five-day working visit to Central Asia and the South Caucasus with a visit to Azerbaijan. This is his first trip abroad outside the EU. Among other things, he discussed oil and natural gas supplies to the Czech Republic with the country's president, Ilham Aliyev. Together with the First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Industry and Trade, Karel Havlíček, he attended the Azerbaijan-Czech Business Forum, which was attended by nearly 130 representatives of companies from both countries. The Prime Minister is accompanied on the trip by a business delegation comprising 50 businesspeople.

At the start of his visit to Azerbaijan, the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, welcomed the Czech Prime Minister, Andrej Babiš, to his private residence in Gabala. The two politicians discussed the possibilities for deepening cooperation between the two countries in the supply of strategic raw materials-oil and natural gas-and other ways of strengthening their economic ties.

"Azerbaijan is a strategic partner for the Czech Republic. That is why I am pleased that our relations with President Aliyev are also very friendly. Today's meeting was very specific. Last year, bilateral trade turnover reached almost CZK 43bln, and the potential for trade and investment growth is enormous. "Azerbaijan is the Czech Republic's largest supplier of oil; 42% of the oil imported last year came from Azerbaijan," said the Czech Prime Minister.

Azerbaijan plans to expand its gas production, and ČEZ is interested in signing a long-term contract with the Azerbaijani side for gas supplies to the Czech Republic. "President Aliyev and I agreed that we want to cooperate in other areas as well. We are highly interested in a long-term gas supply contract-which is why representatives from ČEZ are here with us-and I believe we will manage to pull it off. President Aliyev proposed the establishment of an intergovernmental economic commission to focus primarily on cooperation in the energy and industrial sectors. On our side, it will be led by Minister Karel Havlíček, and on the Azerbaijani side by the Minister of Economy, Mikayil Jabbarov," the Czech Prime Minister added.

The Azerbaijan-Czech Business Forum was attended by nearly 130 representatives of companies from both countries."Czech companies are highly interested, for example, in securing a contract for the Baku metro modernisation project. Škoda Transportation is ready, just like our other companies, to set up joint ventures here, relocate production, invest in research and development of course, cooperate with our universities, and employ local citizens," Prime Minister Babiš said, summing up the Czech side's offer. He also highlighted existing cooperation between companies, for example in the defence and aerospace industries.

In the coming days, the Prime Minister will also visit Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan.