Baku, Nov. 2 (Jiji Press)–The head of Azerbaijan’s Cinema Agency has voiced hopes that the popular Japanese television drama “Vivant” will bring the two nations closer together. Azerbaijan, located on the west side of the Caspian Sea, was one of the TV drama’s main filming locations. In a recent interview with Jiji Press in Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan, Rashad Azizov, director-general of the agency, praised the Japanese drama for making “history.” It provided an “opening moment” to create a “bridge” between the two nations, he said. Noting that this was the first time for a large-scale Japanese screen production to be filmed in Azerbaijan, Azizov said, “We hope that this film will be the starting point for the future” of Japan-Azerbaijan ties. Azerbaijan has already started to welcome a stream of Japanese fans of the drama to the country. Voicing hopes that they will enjoy the historic sites, architecture and cuisine that his country has to offer, Azizov expressed hopes for more Japanese tourists. Known as an oil and natural gas producer, Azerbaijan has also focused on creative industries in recent years. As part of the effort, the country refunds up to 40 pct of expenses for non-Azerbaijan firms that make films in the country, according to Azizov. The cinema chief said that the share of creative industries in the country’s gross domestic product has “doubled” in the past three years. The sector offers “quite a good opportunity” for investors, he added, signaling his intention to work on further boosting the industries and encouraging more investments from within and outside Azerbaijan. END [Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.]
