Peru proposes visa-free travel with Azerbaijan for all passport holders

Peru has proposed extending its existing visa exemption agreement with Azerbaijan to cover all passport categories, Azerbaijani Deputy Foreign Minister Elnur Mammadov said in an interview with Peru's Andina news agency, Report informs.

"In 2013, we signed a visa exemption agreement with Peru for holders of diplomatic and service passports. Now, Peru has proposed expanding the agreement to include all types of passports," Mammadov said.

He noted that the development of tourism between the two countries depends largely on two factors: direct flights and visa policies. "If there are direct flights, we can expect more tourists in both directions. Currently, there are no direct connections. On the visa side, the situation is better - Peruvian citizens can obtain a visa on arrival at the airport, and the process is fast and simple," he explained.

The deputy minister also highlighted energy cooperation as a key area of bilateral relations. "We're expanding cooperation in energy: Azerbaijan exports oil to Peru and imports LNG, while also trading LNG on the global market. Significant energy deals between Azerbaijan and Peru have taken place over the past two years. This was one of the topics discussed during the recent political consultations," Mammadov stated.

He added that Azerbaijan is actively developing economic ties with several Latin American countries, particularly in oil and fertilizer trade. Promising areas for cooperation also include agriculture and the mining sector - especially metal extraction.

"We import a lot of agricultural products from the region: avocados, soy, blackberries, cranberries, and more. One of the goals of this visit is to explore cooperation in this field. Today, we discussed the trade structure with colleagues from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Currently, Peru mainly exports avocados, cranberries, and blackberries to Azerbaijan, while Azerbaijan exports lubricants to Peru. We're looking at how to diversify the trade portfolio with additional goods. For that, more information is needed about what Azerbaijan can offer. It's also important to consider the geographic distance and logistical challenges in the Latin American region," he concluded.

Azerbaijan and Peru recently held the first round of political consultations between their foreign ministries in Lima.