India cooperation with Azerbaijan

India has proposed energy cooperation with Azerbaijan by importing oil and gas from the Central Asian country in the oil-rich Caspian Sea region, reported the Indo-Asian News Service Sunday. This is part of India's diplomatic thrust in Central Asia aimed at boosting economic ties with the region, said the report quoting Indian foreign ministry sources. During an India-Azerbaijan Foreign Office Consultations held in Azerbaijan's capital Baku from Sept. 22 to Sept. 24, Sanjay Singh, secretary in India's external affairs ministry, discussed a host of bilateral initiatives with Deputy Foreign Minister of Azerbaijan Khalaf Khalafov, according to the report. India will also look into possible utilization of energy surpluses of Azerbaijan for production of end products of interest to India, such as fertilizers. Azerbaijan has welcomed India's interest in these sectors, the ministry said. Azerbaijan is the third largest oil-producing country in the former Soviet Union and exports oil and gas to European markets via the Black Sea and pipelines through Georgia and Turkey.