UPDATE - Turkey, Russia, Azerbaijan, Iran agree on IT venture

UPDATES WITH TURKISH MINISTER'S MEETING WITH PRESIDENT OF AZERBAIJAN

By Ruslan Rehimov

BAKU (AA) - Ankara, Moscow, Baku and Tehran will establish a joint venture on information technologies, Turkey's transport and infrastructure minister said on Tuesday.

"Four countries have decided to form a joint venture to facilitate closer working opportunities of public and private sector institutions operating in the field of information technologies and to open up opportunities for them," Mehmet Cahit Turhan said.

His remarks came at the Azerbaijan-Russia-Turkey-Iran four-way ministerial meeting in the capital Baku.

During the meeting, the ministers discussed new companies, satellite services and fiber-optic networks.

Turhan said the geographical location of the four countries is important for the communication space of Europe, Africa and Asia.

The minister also attended 24th Azerbaijan International Telecommunications, Innovations and High Technologies Exhibition and Conference (BAKUTEL 2018).

Later on Tuesday, Turkish minister was received by Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev.

During his speech, Aliyev said that the bilateral relations between Azerbaijan and Turkey successfully developed in all areas including transportation and infrastructure.

Pointing out the cooperation between the two countries in transportation, Aliyev said that the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway project, which began operation last year, is of great importance not only for the region but also for further areas.

Aliyev said that the two countries have already cooperated in the field of communication as Turkish companies have long been working in Azerbaijan.

The president expressed hope for expanding the communication cooperation.

Turkish minister Turhan, for his part, said that ties between the countries have deep roots, and Turkey and Azerbaijan will continue to carry out successful projects.

Aliyev and Turhan met again at BAKUTEL when Azerbaijani president visited Turkey’s stand with companies such as Turkstat, PTT, Turkcell and Havelsan participating.