Baku, Fineko/abc.az. Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev has participated today in the ceremony of laying the foundation of a new shipyard to be located near the Heydar Aliyev Baku Deepwater Jackets Factory.

The shipyard will be able to produce 25,000 tons of metallic structures a year, 4 tankers with deadweight by 15,000 tons or 2 Caspian Max tankers with deadweight of 60,000-70,000 tons, 4 supply ships, and repair 80-100 vessels.

The project shareholders are State Oil Company of Azerbaijan (65%), Azerbaijan Investment Company (25%) and Singapore’s Keppel Offshore & Marine (10%).

The shipyard project evaluated at $350 million will be realized for two or three years.

The opening ceremony also involved Singapore’s foreign minister George Yeo

Who emphasized that the shipyard was a new stage in development of Azerbaijan-Singapore partnership.

According to Mr. Yeo, the parties are discussing opportunities to activate bilateral co-operation and perspective of signing agreements on investment stimulation, double taxation avoiding, possible exchange of the days of culture, organization of Singaporean staff training in Azerbaijani Diplomatic Academy.

“On agenda is also the issue of easing of visa regime with Azerbaijan and most likely Singapore’s Keppel will be empowered to undertake solution of these issues. In addition, we’ve discussed the matter of direct flight between Azerbaijan and Singapore which is currently carried out via Dubai and Moscow. On return to Singapore we are going to discuss with appropriate governmental agencies the expediency of this issue,” Mr. Yeo said.

19.03.2010 17:05