AZERI ACTING ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT MINISTER MEETS US DEPUTY SECRETARY OF COMMERCE

Baku, 30 0ctober ,(AzerTAj)Acting Economic Development Minister of Azerbaijan Heydar Babayev has met visiting U.S. Deputy Secretary of Commerce John Sullivan.

Sullivan praised reforms carried out in Azerbaijan.
Pointing to the World Bank Doing Business` report which announced Azerbaijan the
world`s top reformer, Sullivan said this was one of major factors which increased
investment flow into the country.
He said an office of the US Department of Commerce will be inaugurated in Azerbaijan
in 2009.
Heydar Babayev, in turn, said Azerbaijan places a special emphasis on boosting trade
relations with foreign countries.
On bilateral trade between Azerbaijan and the United States, Babayev said it rose to
$4.2 billion during the first seven months of 2008 from $497 million last year.
Babayev also briefed Sullivan on Azerbaijan`s moves towards joining the World Trade
Organization, and praised the US government`s relevant support to his country.
U.S. Ambassador to Azerbaijan Anne Derse was also present in the meeting.