Memorandum of Understanding between the Government of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Government of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan on cooperation in the field of mineral resources and geology.

The Government of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Government of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan aim at strengthening and expanding cooperation in the exploration and development of mineral resources. The purpose of this Memorandum of Understanding is to promote and facilitate cooperation on policy, technical and scientific aspects of mineral resources, on the basis of equality, reciprocity and mutual benefit and in accordance with the national legislation of the State of the Parties, priorities and strategies. The areas of cooperation are, as follows: (i) encouraging and promoting investments in, including but not limited to, gold, silver, copper and other precious and non-ferrous metals covering exploration, production and benefication, processing and marketing; (ii) supporting technological/innovative research in the field of mineral sector; (iii) fostering cooperation of academia, university and science institutes in the field of mineral resources; (iv) promoting and adopting best standards and practices in mineral sector, nationally, bilaterally and within platforms of international and regional cooperation; (v) conducting joint research work on fundamental challenges of geological/geotechnical sciences. The areas of mutual interest and benefit for future cooperative activities may include but are not limited to: exchange of information on mineral sector; development and transfer of technology in mineral sector; trainings and skill development in geological exploration, production, benefication, processing and marketing; exchange visits of technical experts in the geological sectors; short and long term training courses in Geographical Information Systems (GIS), Remote Sensing and related disciplines in Azerbaijan; provision of short training courses to geoscientists from Azerbaijan at Geoscience Advance Research Laboratories in Pakistan. The disagreement may be solved through negotiation and consultations. The Parties may make amendments to this Agreement by mutual consent. This MoU shall remain in force for an indefinite period of time unless terminated by written notice requiring six months through diplomatic channels.