"Our main aim and a major topic of the current dialogue is the expansion of trade in non-energy spheres," German Gref said after a meeting with Azerbaijan's President Ilkham Aliyev.
Trade between Russia and Azerbaijan grew 44%, year-on-year, in 2005, exceeding $1 billion.
Russia and Azerbaijan are members of the 11-nation Black Sea Economic Cooperation alliance, which also includes Albania, Armenia, Bulgaria, Georgia, Greece, Moldova, Romania, Turkey and Ukraine.
During the talks, the parties discussed various projects in the hi-tech and power industries, and car manufacturing, including the construction of a truck manufacturing plant in Azerbaijan.
"I am talking about the assembly of KAMAZ trucks for sale on the local market," Gref said. "The company is currently looking for a site in Azerbaijan to construct a truck assembly plant."
He also said Russian companies show interest in the development and management of power generation and supply networks in Azerbaijan to help the Central Asian country resolve frequent electricity supply problems.
A total of 395 firms and organizations with Russian capital are registered in Azerbaijan, of which 95 are 100% Russian owned, 176 are joint ventures, and 124 are representations and offices.
"We are open to the search for all areas that would give us diversification, because the multi-facet character of our relations will ensure their stability, so that we are not connected only by oil ties," Gref said.
