The 20th meeting of the Joint Intergovernmental Commission between Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan was held

The 20th Meeting of the Joint Intergovernmental Commission on Trade and Economic cooperation between the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Republic of Kazakhstan was held in Baku.

Before the meeting, there was a bilateral meeting between the co-chairs of the Commission, Minister of Energy of Azerbaijan Parviz Shahbazov, and Minister of Transport of Kazakhstan Marat Karabayev.   There was an exchange of views on measures taken to strengthen mutual activity in all directions of cooperation between Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan, expansion of the nomenclature of export-import goods, and development of priority projects in energy, investment, and transport-logistics fields.

The commission’s session was comprehensive, addressing a wide-ranging cooperation agenda. It aimed to elevate the brotherly and friendly relations between Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan to a new historical level. The discussion spanned commercial-economic ties, energy, transport, logistics, industry, construction, agriculture, health, food safety, space activities, digitalization, information technologies, science and education, culture, youth policy, tourism, sports, ecology, and the environment.

The co-chairman of the commission, Minister of Energy Parviz Shahbazov said: "Thanks to the political will of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Mr. Ilham Aliyev and the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Mr. Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, the relations between the two countries have reached the level of alliance and have become comprehensive. Supporting the trade and economic partnership with a comprehensive program and important documents, the transit of Kazakh oil through Azerbaijan, the efforts of our countries to effectively use the opportunities of the Middle Corridor, active work on laying an optical-fiber communication line through the bottom of the Caspian Sea, as well as the promotion of "green energy" from Central Asia to Azerbaijan Our cooperation on the creation of the "green energy" corridor for export to Europe shows that our countries are determined to expand our multidirectional relations. In this regard, our activities within the Intergovernmental Commission are of great importance.”

Co-chair of the comission Minister Karabayev said: “Comprehensive Program on the Development of Cooperation between the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Republic of Kazakhstan for 2022-2026 contributes to the development of bilateral relations. In 2023, the volume of cargo transportation between Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan increased 1.5 times to 4.3 million tons. The volume on the Middle Corridor increased by 65% and reached 2.8 million tons. I would like to emphasize once again the importance of today's meeting held on the eve of the official visit of President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev to Azerbaijan on 11–12 March."

During the meeting, it was reported that in 2023, the trade volume between Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan amounted to 314 million USD. Azerbaijan’s investments in Kazakhstan have totaled 211 million USD, while Kazakhstan has contributed 114 million USD to Azerbaijan’s economy. The upcoming Azerbaijan-Kazakhstan Business Council meeting is set to discuss initiatives to boost trade and economic ties. This includes integrating Kazakh companies into the Alat Free Economic Zone (AFEZ) and fostering AFEZ's collaboration with Kazakhstan’s free economic zones.  Plans are underway to establish the Azerbaijan-Kazakhstan Investment Fund, initiate joint ventures in industrial and technology parks, construct a grain terminal at Alat port, and explore shipbuilding cooperation. Kazakh companies are also invited to engage in projects within Azerbaijan’s liberated territories.  The construction of the Kurmangazy Center for the Development of Children's Creativity for 600 students in Fuzuli and plans for a new hospital were acknowledged with high regard.

Furthermore, the meeting addressed enhancing the oil and gas partnership, including increasing the transit of Kazakh oil and cargo via diverse routes and the Middle Corridor. Commitments were made to finalize the Caspian underwater optical line connecting Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan as part of the Digital Silk Road initiative, commence the feasibility study for the Central-Asia-Europe electricity transmission project, and progress in all discussed areas. Both nations reaffirmed their dedication to transitioning towards green energy and expressed a mutual interest in collaborating on renewable energy and energy efficiency projects with Kazakh enterprises.

At the end, a protocol was signed on the outcomes of the 20th meeting of the Azerbaijan-Kazakhstan Joint Intergovernmental Commission. It was agreed that the 21st meeting of the commission will be held in Baku next year.