Azerbaijan unveils plans to set up Dubai consulate

Abu Dhabi: Azerbaijan will soon set up its consulate in Dubai in response to growing diplomatic and trade relations with the UAE, the Azeri ambassador told Gulf News.

Azeri Ambassador Eldar Salimov said it was necessary to open a consulate in Dubai to help further diplomatic relations between Azerbaijan and the UAE.

The Caucasian country, which gained independence in 1991, established its diplomatic relations with the UAE and other GCC countries more than five years ago. It opened its embassy in Abu Dhabi in 2001.

The member state of Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) has its diplomatic missions in Saudi Arabia and Kuwait, and plans to open similar missions in other GCC countries. Plans are already under way for an embassy in Qatar, the ambassador said.

"It has been the policy of the Republic of Azerbaijan since 1991 to strengthen diplomatic relations with the regional countries, particularly the Gulf region," he said.

The ambassador said the UAE and Azerbaijan enjoy cordial political, diplomatic and trade ties. "There are lots of common factors and similarities that further the bond between the two countries, like common religion, culture, history and economy," he said.

The UAE investors can invest in tourism, oil, petrochemicals, telecommunications and food processing and agriculture industries. Heavy machinery sector is another attractive area, he said.