By AZE.US
The first shipment of Armenian-made aluminum foil to Azerbaijan shows that trade between the two countries can develop in both directions, but payment, insurance and product-verification barriers could limit how quickly commerce expands, Azerbaijani analyst Natig Jafarli said.
Jafarli made the comments during a Pressclubs TV discussion with Armenian analyst Areg Kochinyan, a joint media platform of the Baku and Yerevan press clubs.
Jafarli said Azerbaijani exports to Armenia remain significantly larger by value, while the aluminum-foil shipment marked an early example of goods moving in the opposite direction. He said private companies will need workable mechanisms for direct payments and insurance before bilateral trade can grow substantially.
“I mean bank transfers, I mean insurance. Who will be responsible for that?” Jafarli said.
He said Armenian food and agricultural products could eventually attract Azerbaijani buyers if they are competitive on price and quality. Food shipments would also require laboratory testing and clear safety guarantees, he added.
Kochinyan agreed that the absence of direct bank transfers is holding back trade. He called for payment channels between the two countries, mutual recognition of insurance policies and, eventually, permanent border crossings. Routing commerce through a third country increases costs, he said.
The trade discussion unfolded alongside debate over Karabakh’s historical and religious heritage. Jafarli said official contacts between Baku and Yerevan are continuing despite sharp reactions on social media, and argued that civil society should work to reduce tensions.
“The main thing is that there is no shooting now or in the future,” he said.
Kochinyan said a peace process does not automatically erase disagreements, but should allow the countries to address them through negotiations and practical cooperation.
Source: Vesti Baku.