MINISTER OF LABOR AND SOCIAL PROTECTION OF POPULATION MEETS SWEDISH

Baku, 18 November,(AzerTAj)Azerbaijani minister of labor and social protection of population Fizuli Alakbarov met Tuesday with Swedish minister for employment Sven Otto Littorin and his accompanying delegation.

Alakbarov praised the Azerbaijani government`s attention towards strengthening the
social protection of the population.
He said a state program on reduction of poverty was successfully carried out in the
country, allowing reducing the poverty levels to 15 percent from 49.
Alakbarov said his ministry is working on a number of projects together with several
international organizations, including the World Bank.
Sven Otto Littorin, in turn, stressed the importance of an Azerbaijan-Sweden
business forum Baku will host on Wednesday.
He said he is accompanied by a large delegation, including representatives of 15
leading Swedish companies who will attend the forum, high on whose agenda, according
to the Swedish Minister, will be increasing the bilateral trade between the two
countries.
Sven Otto Littorin said his country will take on the European Union presidency from
2009.
“We will try to establish and expand relations with not only EU members, but also
with other countries.” he said.
The meeting ended with the signing of a protocol on cooperation between the two
ministries.