Azerbaijan President Heydar Aliyev said Friday that Japan lags behind other countries such as the United States in making investments in Azerbaijan, but contends his visit to Tokyo will result in increasing Japan's investment.
"Japanese firms lag behind others (in investment), but they will catch up after my visit to Japan. I will help them to promote investment," Aliyev told a press conference at the Japan National Press Club.
On Thursday, two companies in the Mitsui business conglomerate made a deal with the State Oil Co. of Azerbaijan to develop an offshore oil field. Aliyev said that he places importance on cooperation with Japan in the economic sector and that he has achieved significant results regarding this matter since he arrived in Japan on Tuesday.
Meanwhile, Aliyev said that he discussed a variety of issues with Prime Minister Ryutaro Hashimoto, including a dispute over the Armenian enclave of Nagorno-Karabakh in Azerbaijan. Many refugees emerged because of the dispute, and they are having financial difficulties, Aliyev said.
The Japanese government announced Friday that it will extend about $3.22 million in emergency aid for refugees in the Caucasus countries of Azerbaijan, Georgia and Armenia. The government estimates there are about 870,000 refugees in Azerbaijan, 290,000 in Armenia and 300,000 in Georgia.