EU plans to issue grants for agriculture sector

The EU mission in Azerbaijan has launched a new grant call for proposals to support community based initiatives that generate market-driven income and employment in rural areas of Azerbaijan.

The deadline for concept notes is February 21, the EU Neighborhood Info Center reported.

The application for this call for proposals is open to small holder farm producers, agricultural value chain actors, agricultural based rural groups and associations, small and medium scale rural business enterprises (agriculture or non-agricultural such as tourism), municipalities and small producers of handicraft.

A specific attention will be paid to people wanting to start their own business, women, the unemployed, people with special needs, and internally-displaced persons (IDPs).

Proposals containing elements of gender mainstreaming and creative approaches on how to involve vulnerable groups are highly encouraged.

The global objective of the initiative is to foster economic regeneration and job creation in rural areas of the non-Absheron regions.

The EU is one of the largest creditors of Azerbaijan's agriculture sector. The Union is implementing a number of projects in this sphere, in particular, a joint project worth 40 million euros with the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD).

Moreover, the EU works with the Agriculture Ministry for the development of an electronic agriculture system and a land information system, implements a twinning project aimed at developing the veterinary service in the country and jointly with the Agriculture Ministry and the ADA University aims to improve the training level of the agriculture specialists.

The share of European countries in Azerbaijan’s foreign trade was 37.12 percent in January-September 2016, according to Azerbaijan’s State Customs Committee.

Currently, European countries account for 27.89 and 45.87 percent of Azerbaijani import and export, respectively. European countries mainly deliver vehicles and transportation equipment to Azerbaijan and import oil products.

Azerbaijan has become a country of direct priority to the EU’s strategy in its wider neighborhood since the last enlargement of the European Union in 2007. Azerbaijan affects Europe’s interests, mainly in a regional energy strategy.