Experts doubt Azerbaijan's ability to replace Turkish foodstuff imports to Russia

In Baku, experts doubt that Azerbaijan is able to fully compensate the need for agricultural products of the Russian market in connection with the sanctions imposed by Moscow against Turkey.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on November 28, President Vladimir Putin signed a decree on special economic measures against Turkey. The decree bans importation of goods produced in Turkey and introduces significant restrictions on the work of Turkish citizens on the territory of Russia. Besides, charter flights between the countries are also banned.

The Russian market is huge, and the sanctions against Turkey can hardly influence its volume. Azerbaijan had opportunities to increase its export to the Russian Federation in connection with the ban on the importation of products from Western countries. This opinion has been expressed by expert economist Natiq Jafarli, the executive secretary of the movement "Republican Alternative".

According to him, in practice, the Russian sanctions can be bypassed and Turkish food can be supplied from Azerbaijan through re-export. Meanwhile, the expert has added that this option may not work if the official Baku will ban it to prevent possible deterioration of relations with Moscow.

Khafiz Babaly, an economic observer of the news agency "Turan", has also pointed to transport and logistical problems of the delivery of Azerbaijani vegetables to the Russian market.

The expert did not rule out that because sanctions, Turkey will redirect its products to Azerbaijan, and this will result in the growth of the export of Azerbaijani products to Russia.

Full text of the article is available on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’.