Tobias Baumann is the new Managing Director of German-Azerbaijani Chamber of Commerce. His predecessor on this position was Florian Schröder who was appointed as a Chairman of Executive board of German-Baltic Chamber of Commerce.
Mr Tobias Bauman have told to Ann.az about future plans of AHK
What are the future plans of German-Azerbaijani Chamber of Commerce (AHK)?
First of all we will go on with projects already in the pipeline. We are about to continue with an business survey among foreign companies, especially European companies. We did that first time in 2016 and I think we will have it again in 2017 if all partners in the project agree.
Could you please elaborate about this survey?
Survey means we ask the European and international companies operating in the country about their expectations, assement of the economy in Azerbaijan and their business perspectives in Azerbaijan. Just to get a picture of the situation.
Did AHK conduct survey also in previous years ?
We had this kind of survey first time this year. As for now the business survey is also planned for next year but it is not confirmed yet.
Which other projects AHK plan to implement?
We think about a vocational education project. This is an improtant topic also for diversification of economies in Azerbaijan and many other countries. Skilled work is one of the keys to modernization. And I do hope that we will have business delegations in 2017. Usually we have several delegations over the year. Participating companies explore the market or the investment environment. We do our best to show them partners and opportunities in Azerbaijan.
What needs to be done so that foreign companies could invest in Azerbaijan?
The main thing is that investor can make money. That’s what a company has to do, it needs to be profitable, otherwise it’s getting closed. Therefore investors seek for suitable conditions to sell or produce their goods. In that respect Azerbaijan as any other country in the world is in competition for foreign direct investment.
Are there specific German companies interested to invest in Azerbaijan?
We have a membership of more than 130 companies, German or related to German business. Around 170 German companies are active in the country. We work on increasing theses figures and we would like to bring more German business to this country.
How cooperation with local governmental structures going?
We have very good contacts and a smooth cooperation with the administration of this country. The government is very helpful and supports our aims of bilateral trade development. The Azerbaijani government contributed very much to the idea of our AHK, the German-Azerbaijani Foreign Trade Chamber. Without its support we wouldn’t have established this institution four years ago.
By Vusal Azizov
www.ann.az
Follow us !
