Ambassador Ronen Krausz outlines investment opportunities for Israeli companies in Karabakh (Exclusive interview) (PHOTO)

[ad_1] BAKU, Azerbaijan, September 5. Israeli firms can turn into part of and contribute to the event of Azerbaijan's Karabakh area, Israel’s Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Azerbaijan Ronen Krausz mentioned in an unique interview with Pattern.

"That is the second time I serve in Azerbaijan. The primary time I served as deputy chief of mission between 2010 and 2015. I did not have an opportunity to go to Karabakh, sadly. However this time I will certainly go to Karabakh. It will likely be my first time, and I am trying ahead to it. As for Israeli firms' involvement in Karabakh, undoubtedly, it's an space which is within the focus of the Azerbaijani authorities to be developed, and I feel that Israeli firms with their applied sciences, information and know-how can contribute as effectively, whether or not it is in innovation, applied sciences, well being, academia with the help of Israeli universities. It could be a tourism vacation spot for Israelis. Infrastructure, water applied sciences, agriculture are of curiosity and Israel can turn into a a part of and contribute to the event of Karabakh as effectively," the ambassador defined.

Harnessing the solar and wind: inexperienced power prospects

“In fact, inexperienced power is extraordinarily necessary. Each Azerbaijan and Israel are having fun with plenty of solar, and Azerbaijan, particularly, plenty of wind which may provide power in a cleaner and safer method,” he mentioned.

Krausz recalled that COP29, which was held in Baku final 12 months, additionally marked an incredible achievement of Azerbaijan by exhibiting that its intention in the direction of local weather change and discovering different sources of power is necessary.

“Israel has the know-how which permits it and likewise its companions to get pleasure from higher methods of using these clear sources of power in Israel, primarily photo voltaic, much less wind. We have already got a number of tasks, and we'll undoubtedly be comfortable to share this information and expertise along with our buddies in Azerbaijan, to discover new venues of easy methods to enhance and make it higher,” the ambassador famous.

SOCAR’s rising position in Israel’s gasoline sector

Krausz identified that Israel is trying ahead to growing involvement of Azerbaijan’s state oil firm (SOCAR) in gasoline exploration.

He identified that power is an important a part of relations between the 2 international locations.

“For a few years, Israel has acquired giant quantities of oil from Azerbaijan. We admire the continuation of enterprise between Israel and Azerbaijan on this discipline. I feel that it's going to undoubtedly proceed sooner or later, as a result of it is for the advantage of each international locations,” mentioned the ambassador.

Krausz praised the coming into of Azerbaijan’s state oil firm SOCAR into the Israeli gasoline sector and the enterprise by buying 10% of Tamar gasoline discipline in early 2025, noting that this was SOCAR’s first deal of its variety outdoors Azerbaijan.

“We're very proud that it has been Israel as the primary one. We are trying additionally ahead to growing involvement of SOCAR in gasoline exploration. It additionally gained the tender for exploring gasoline within the northern components of the Mediterranean. We hope that will probably be profitable and that it's going to additionally result in elevated cooperation in the power discipline,” he added.

Agricultural innovation: turning challenges into alternatives

Krausz expressed hope that extra Israeli firms will come to Azerbaijan to spend money on agriculture.

"Since Israel is positioned in desert, additionally it is affected by lack of water. We have now managed to beat these challenges by discovering different sources of water, whether or not it is purification of sewage water as much as the purpose that nearly 100% of our sewage is purified and reused in agriculture and desalination. We at present have 5 crops and planning on constructing extra crops of desalination. The infinite supply of water from the ocean assists us to deal with the lack of water, which comes from nature, and on this sense, additionally agricultural applied sciences, that are extraordinarily developed in Israel, make the most of the challenges that we encounter within the desert or different local weather challenges," mentioned the ambassador.

He famous that in that sense, Israel is sharing the information in Azerbaijan and attempting to deliver from the experience that it has each in agriculture and water.

"There are a number of Israeli firms which are already working right here. Mekorot, the Nationwide Water Firm of Israel, is right here in Azerbaijan, aiding with consulting in varied tasks. We have now Israeli firms which have already began pilot tasks in Gazakh and different locations.

Hopefully, we'll see increasingly Israeli firms not solely coming to share information, but additionally to speculate and to discover new venues of cooperation utilizing higher applied sciences of irrigation, higher seeds, which may address the local weather change, and to be capable of have extra merchandise from the identical land space. We have now applied sciences which permit us to have extra merchandise from the identical land space in order that the meals safety of the nation may be extra assured. I'm positive that we'll have increasingly examples of Israeli firms coming over," he mentioned.

Exploring new frontiers of cooperation

The ambassador famous that alongside with agriculture and water, Israel has much more to supply, whether or not will probably be in cyber safety, which Israel is already lively in Azerbaijan, AI capabilities. Israel has firms and information that may very well be shared.

Furthermore, Krausz famous that Israel is a number one pressure in well being applied sciences and aiding with growing ranges of medical help and a spotlight.

"Tourism is an unimaginable venue to be explored and to be developed. These days, Israel and Azerbaijan are having fun with airline connection of two firms and hopefully quickly we'll have a 3rd firm coming in as effectively with over 20 flights in whole per week between Tel Aviv and Baku, which permits vacationers from each international locations to return and go to, in addition to for Israelis to make use of Baku as a hub since Azerbaijan Airways (AZAL) is flying to the east and to the west. Transit can also be a factor that must be developed.

Since I arrived a month in the past, I've seen many Israelis having fun with Baku, exploring its streets and studying about its tradition. It is all the time good to satisfy with Israelis and listen to their optimistic remarks on the environment, on the best way that they're handled and welcomed. I hope that we'll see increasingly Israelis coming and having fun with this stunning nation," he mentioned.

Strengthening ties by visits and joint occasions

"We have now loads of plans. For now, there may be nothing concrete, however the minute we'll have concrete dates and plans, we'll undoubtedly share them additionally with the media. I can let you know that in November, Azerbaijan is about to host the Convention of European Rabbis. In early November, there might be greater than 500 rabbis coming from Europe and different international locations, in addition to Israel, to take part right here of their annual convention. I feel that this can be a nice achievement that Azerbaijan, as a rustic with a majority of Muslim inhabitants, is about to host this essential convention, exhibiting the particular consideration and perspective that the nation has, not solely to the Jewish neighborhood, however to minorities in the entire. I assume that this can be a story that must be advised to the world. Sadly, we see it much less and fewer elsewhere. The extra the world is aware of about how Azerbaijan is treating with respect and honor its minorities, amongst them the Jewish neighborhood, the higher. It is a essential story that must be advised," Krausz mentioned.

Returning to Baku: a private {and professional} chapter

In conclusion, Krausz mentioned that after 10 years he was delighted to return to Azerbaijan.

"I'm coming again to Azerbaijan after 10 years since I completed my earlier put up right here. For us diplomats, we've the power to select from an inventory of locations. After I noticed that Baku was on the listing, I mentioned: no different place — I'll return to Baku. The 5 years we spent right here, each professionally and as a household, have been extraordinarily significant. That interval was a really useful expertise for all of us. So, once I was chosen, I used to be extraordinarily comfortable, and we have been very glad to have this chance to return again. To this point, it has been simply over a month since I got here again. I am overwhelmed with what I see, with the event of the nation, the extent of the relations between Israel and Azerbaijan, the assist that Israel receives from Azerbaijan, particularly right this moment, in these tough instances when Israel remains to be in a struggle and we watch for the discharge of our 48 hostages. The assist and the respect that we obtain in any respect ranges, from high to backside, from the management all the best way to the individuals, the people-to-people connection, is extraordinarily transferring. It solely comes to point out for myself that the choice that I've made to come again was the precise one," he mentioned.