Azerbaijan is reportedly increasing agricultural exports to the UAE, after witness a worldwide demand for its high-quality produce.

In 2019 the country recorded USD 1.8 billion in non-oil exports, a 16% increase from 2018. Over the year, Russia, Turkey, Switzerland, Georgia, and Ukraine were the largest absorbers of vegetables and fruits from Azerbaijan. The top produce includes USD 177 million worth of tomatoes, with persimmon, hazelnut, cherries, apples, potatoes, peaches, and onions following closely behind.

Leyla Mammadova, Chairperson of the Board of Agro Procurement and Supply at the Ministry of Agriculture Azerbaijan announced, “Legal entities and individuals carried out trading operations with partners from 190 countries. We anticipate a growth in our agriculture sector in 2020, with 55% of our land being utilized for agriculture and nearly 40% of our population employed in the industry. The steps, reforms, and programs taken through the Ministry of Agriculture of Azerbaijan by the government have been instrumental to the advancement of the industry.”

Ms. Mammadova revealed that the top products exported to the UAE includes tobacco, vegetables, fruits, meat, and spirits. “The opening of the UAE market will boost bilateral relations between our nations. We anticipate diversifying into consulting and will look into assisting UAE develop its own agricultural sector through our knowledge and know-how,” she added.

Ms. Mammadova illustrated the benefits for UAE nationals and residents looking to invest in Azerbaijan. “Azerbaijan offers easy access to CIS markets, Europe and even Asia. Investors seeking to export goods to China can benefit from our trade deals with Kazakhstan among other countries who will open their trade lines for Azerbaijan businesses exclusively.”

She identified Azerbaijan’s strategy of gearing towards the niche market as opposed to the mass market as a key attribute to the sector’s unprecedented growth. “The Ministry of Agriculture of Azerbaijan is keen to promote its products in the UAE in addition to attracting investors from the region through participation at roadshows, exhibitions, and events. We have just completed a successful event in Dubai executed with the support of the Azerbaijan embassy in the UAE. In the upcoming year, we are planning to conduct promotional events in the other emirates that include the capital.”

“We remain optimistic about securing a bigger market share in the UAE. With export volume increasing 3 times in the last two years and only the third country in the world to increase its export volume by 40%, we expect to spread our presence in the GCC and the Middle East. After all, Azerbaijan is home to the world’s best cotton which we dubbed white gold, petroleum which is our black gold and tomatoes, which is our red gold,” she concluded.