The mission to Azerbaijan to promote Macfrut - the fair to be held at the Rimini Expo Centre on May 8-10, 2024 - on an international level ended a few days ago. "Azerbaijan is a strategic country for Italy as it is the leading supplier of oil. The country located between Europe and Asia also boasts an important agricultural sector, so much so that it employs a quarter of operators," reads a company note.
Organized by the Italian-Azerbaijani University, the mission was initiated as part of the cooperation between some of the leading Italian universities, including the University of Bologna, and the prestigious University of ADA in Baku. A collaboration that will lead to the creation of a school of agricultural and food sciences directed by Matteo Vittuari, professor from the Department of Agricultural and Food Sciences and Technologies at the University of Bologna and from the University of ADA (in double appointment since August 2023).
The first activities that will be introduced by the new school include a course on "Sustainable Horticultural Systems" in collaboration with Macfrut. The mission of Macfrut's president Renzo Piraccini created the basis also for this new important collaboration, which is also supported by the Italian-Azerbaijani Chamber of Commerce via President Manuela Traldi.
"Macfrut was presented at the organization for the promotion of Azerbaijani exports (Azpromo) in front of representatives from the Ministry of Agriculture and many operators from the fruit and vegetable sector, many of whom already knew the fair as they had attended the latest editions. The great participation is an indication of the even higher number of people who will take part the next edition.
Last but not least, the mission was also the occasion to visit some producers, since Azerbaijan is a historic producer of tomatoes and potatoes, peaches, nectarines, apples and pears. The produce is mostly destined to the domestic market or to be exported to the Russian federation and, to a lesser extent, to countries in the Persian Gulf.
Azerbaijan boasts great resources, which are being invested in the modernization of infrastructures and for the improvement of the agricultural sector.