2024-03-14 05:38:26
Source: Trend International Information Agency
Croatia and Azerbaijan are discussing cooperation in the field of mine clearance and restoration of cultural heritage monuments.
As Day.Az reports, the Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development of the Republic of Croatia, Damir Habijan, who is on a visit to Baku to participate in the Azerbaijani-Croatian business forum, said this in an exclusive interview with Trend.
“We held a business forum and the third meeting of the joint commission between the Government of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Government of the Republic of Croatia on the development of economic cooperation. My delegation includes representatives of 31 companies from Croatia. We discussed the mine clearance process, since unfortunately, Croatia has experience in this region due to the war in the 1990s. The DOK-ING company from Croatia has certain contacts with the Azerbaijani side. And I hope that as a result of this business forum and joint commission we will sign some contracts in the future,” the minister said .
Habizhan noted that the Croatian side is also negotiating with the Ministry of Culture of Azerbaijan on possible cooperation in the restoration of cultural heritage monuments in the liberated lands of Azerbaijan.
“Croatia, unfortunately, also has experience in this area due to the earthquake that occurred in Zagreb and Sisak four years ago. We have companies specializing in the restoration of cultural heritage monuments,” he noted.
The minister added that the parties signed the protocol of the third meeting of the joint commission on the development of economic cooperation.
“I think this joint commission was very productive. I hope that this will become the basis for future contracts and future development of business cooperation between Azerbaijan and Croatia,” Habizhan noted.
Cooperation in the field of green energy
According to Habijan, Croatia and Azerbaijan have great potential for cooperation in the field of green energy.
He noted that the European Union aims to become the first climate-neutral continent by 2050, and this is also Croatia’s responsibility.
“We aim to install 2,500 megawatts of renewable energy capacity by 2028. In addition to solar and wind energy, this also includes geothermal energy. We have allocated 75 million euros to explore the geothermal potential in the Republic of Croatia. So I think there is great potential for cooperation in in this area between Azerbaijan and Croatia,” the minister said.
Khabizhan believes that there is also huge potential for cooperation in the development of hydrogen energy.
“I think the potential is very large. Pipelines that are planned to be built from Croatia to Hungary and Slovenia have also been adapted for transporting hydrogen. We have a strategy for the development of hydrogen energy until 2050,” he added.
Regarding the upcoming COP29 conference, which will be held in Baku this November, the minister expressed confidence that the Croatian side will take part in the event.
“Because the green transition and renewable energy are really important for Croatia as part of the European Union. So, we are committed to this goal, and therefore we will definitely be part of COP29, and we are looking forward to it,” Habijan said.
The minister added that Croatia is open to cooperation in all areas.
“There is great scope for cooperation. We are talking about many areas, including the economy, infrastructure, healthcare, education, as well as tourism. At the moment, we do not have direct flights between Azerbaijan and Croatia. Meanwhile, representatives of the food and pharmaceutical company Podravka from Croatia are here in Baku and I look forward to signing contracts in the future,” he said.
Emphasizing the very good and friendly cooperation between the two countries, Habizhan noted that there is a need to expand and improve these relations.
“The Azerbaijani-Croatian business forum held in Baku was an excellent opportunity to strengthen our relations, especially when we talk about business and economics. We need to diversify economic cooperation,” he added.
Expansion of gas infrastructure
Croatia has allocated about 459 million euros for the construction of pipeline infrastructure to Hungary and Slovenia, Damir Habijan reported.
“In 2021, we opened an LNG terminal on the island of Krk. We are currently expanding its capacity from 2.9 to 6.1 billion cubic meters of natural gas. We have also allocated about 459 million euros for the construction of pipeline infrastructure: one to Hungary, the other to Slovenia. As for the Ionian-Adriatic Pipeline (IAP), this is a shorter route for supplying Azerbaijani gas to Hungary and Slovakia, as well as to Slovenia,” he said.
Habijan noted that Croatia also supports the Trans Adriatic Pipeline (TAP) and the Trans Anatolian Natural Gas Pipeline (TANAP).
“We expect to complete the construction of a gas pipeline towards Slovenia and Hungary by 2026. We also want to build a southern pipeline with Bosnia and Herzegovina. We have allocated huge funds to expand the capacity of our LNG terminal and build pipeline infrastructure,” the minister added.
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