07:20     07 December 2022    

Baku Tribune presents an interview with a student of the Azerbaijan State Oil and Industry University (ASOIU) Hitarth Parmar.

Baku Tribune presents an interview with a student of the Azerbaijan State Oil and Industry University (ASOIU) Hitarth Parmar. - Please, tell us about yourself. - I am Hitarth Parmar. I came from India. My dream is to become a good engineer in the oil and gas industry. The same as my father. - Why did you choose the Azerbaijan State Oil and Industry University for your studies? - As I said, my father is an engineer by education and has 20 years of experience in the oil and gas, energy and chemical industries. He has worked for MNC on projects in the Gulf and India. My other relatives also work for an oil and gas company in the US and Europe. My father sent me to ASOIU. One of my relatives also studied at this university. I am a final year student and highly recommend ASOIU to others for their studies. - How is the process of your studies at the university? - I like the campus of the university, as well as its management. Whenever I encountered certain problems, the university management promptly solves them. I enjoy spending time at the university with students and in the library, where I get useful information and ideas that inspire me. - How do you like Azerbaijani cuisine? - Azerbaijani cuisine is rich due to the geography of the country. I have found dishes that have similarities with Iranian, Caucasian, Turkic, Russian, Georgian and Mediterranean cuisines. I really liked the sturgeon and beluga kebab, it's something unique. I tried many Azerbaijani dishes: dovga, shah pilaf, different types of barbecue. Shekerbura and pakhlava are the most famous sweets of Azerbaijan. - What sights did you manage to visit in Baku? Is there a specific place where you and your fellow students spend time? - Baku is the most beautiful and amazing place. This is one of the most beautiful places in the world worth visiting. The Flame Towers, the Maiden's Tower and the Boulevard are especially impressive. There are many beautiful places in Baku, but I have my own special place where I like to spend time. This is Highland Park. This is the place where you can see the mountains, the sea and the city together. Upland Park at night becomes especially beautiful and spectacular. - India and Azerbaijan are bound by friendly relations and growing bilateral cooperation based on civilizational ties, cultural similarities and common values of understanding and respect for other cultures. How can you evaluate it and what do you expect in the future? - The fire temple "Ateshgah" in the vicinity of Baku is an excellent example of our ties. It testifies that our countries have centuries-old historical ties and cultural exchanges. At the present stage, relations between India and Azerbaijan are also developing. The Vice President of India, Mr. M. Venkaya Naidu, visited Baku to attend the Non-Aligned Movement Summit on October 24-26, 2019, accompanied by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dr. S. Jaishankar. Former Foreign Minister of India Ms. Sushma Swaraj visited Azerbaijan on April 4-6, 2018 to participate in the Ministerial Conference of the Non-Aligned Movement and on a bilateral visit. The Parliament of India and the Milli Majlis of Azerbaijan have established contacts. A parliamentary delegation of India consisting of 20 people visited Baku on October 6-10, 2013 as observers during the presidential elections in Azerbaijan at the invitation of the Azerbaijan Civil Society Development Association. In addition, our countries are exploring the possibility of mutually beneficial cooperation in a number of areas, including agriculture. India and Azerbaijan signed an agreement on economic and technical cooperation in June 1998. An agreement on the establishment of the Intergovernmental Indian-Azerbaijani Commission (IGC) for trade, economic, scientific and technological cooperation was signed in April 2007 on air traffic. Agricultural products, building materials and medicines are import from India to Azerbaijan. The Embassy of India organizes cultural events to promote Indian culture, cuisine, films, songs and dances in Azerbaijan. Yoga is very popular in Azerbaijan. - The Indian community in Azerbaijan has about 1,300 people, including specialists working in international companies in the oil and gas sector, individual entrepreneurs in the field of trade in goods, catering and restaurant business and builders on short-term contracts. As a representative of the Indian community in Azerbaijan, how do you assess the role of bilateral relations? Have you talked to other representatives, what are their impressions? - There are four Indian associations in Azerbaijan, namely the Indian Association of Azerbaijan (IAA), the Baku Malali Association (BMA), the Baku Tamilsangam Association and the Azerbaijan Telugu Association (ATA), which work in close cooperation with the embassy. They regularly hold social events celebrating major Indian festivals and events. The Indian community is very active both professionally and socially and is well integrated with the local population. Rolan Yusufov