The strengthening of trade and transport cooperation was discussed at the SPECA ministerial meeting in Geneva, and information about Azerbaijan's business and investment environment was provided during the events.
A meeting of the ministers of economy under the SPECA (Special Program for the Economies of Central Asia) was held in Geneva, Switzerland. The event featured speeches by Tatyana Molchan, the Executive Secretary of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE), Armida Salsiah Alishahbana, the Executive Secretary of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP) via video message, Elnur Aliyev, the First Deputy Minister of Economy of Azerbaijan, Khodjamurad Geldimuradov, the Deputy Prime Minister of the Cabinet of Ministers of Turkmenistan, Arman Kasenov, the Deputy Minister of National Economy of Kazakhstan, Sanjarbek Bolotov, the Deputy Minister of Economy and Commerce of Kyrgyzstan, Sharaf Sheralizoda, the Permanent Representative of Tajikistan to the UN and other international organizations, Nozimdjon Khomurodov, the First Deputy Minister of Investments, Industry, and Trade of Uzbekistan, Giorgi Zurabashvili, the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Georgia, Burak Akchapar, the Permanent Representative of Turkey to the UN and other international organizations in Geneva, and Zofia Havasi, the Permanent Representative of Hungary to the UN and other international organizations.
The speakers shared their views on strengthening mutually beneficial partnerships among the participating countries, as well as joint initiatives and projects on various issues.
The First Deputy Minister of Economy, Elnur Aliyev, emphasized at the meeting that within the framework of the Program, successful and multifaceted cooperation between our countries plays a crucial role in ensuring stability in the region amidst global challenges. In this context, discussions aimed at supporting the region's sustainable development are important. It was noted that Azerbaijan's trade partnership with SPECA member countries is expanding. Last year, the trade turnover between our country and the Program’s participating states exceeded 1.1 billion USD, and in January-February of this year, it amounted to more than 191 million USD. It was highlighted that Azerbaijan has taken significant steps to reduce trade and transport barriers within the SPECA framework. By enhancing logistics along the Middle Corridor, Azerbaijan has become a transit and logistics hub for SPECA countries. It was also mentioned that the SPECA Multilateral Trust Fund, established under the auspices of the UN in September 2024, will play a key role in financing joint projects. The implementation of the SPECA 2030 Development Concept will contribute to the multifaceted development of the participating states.
The meeting discussed the implementation of strategic documents adopted within the SPECA framework, the realization of trade and transport potential, deepening of mutual trade relations, the Roadmap for digitizing multimodal information and document exchange along the Trans-Caspian Transport Corridor, financial mechanisms of the SPECA Multilateral Trust Fund, and other related topics.
A wide-ranging meeting was held within the framework of the SPECA ministers' meeting with the participation of Turkey, Hungary, and Georgia. The meeting focused on promoting cooperation in increasing transport, logistics, and energy connections along the Middle Corridor.
Following the meetings, a high-level presentation on the topic of "Increasing Trade and Transport Connections along the Middle Corridor" was held at the UN office in Geneva. The event was jointly organized by the Permanent Missions of the Middle Corridor countries – Azerbaijan, Georgia, Hungary, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkey, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan – under the initiative of Azerbaijan's Permanent Mission to the UN and other international organizations in Geneva.
The aim of the event was to present the opportunities of the Trans-Caspian Transport Corridor (Middle Corridor) and the potential of the countries along the corridor, promote multilateral cooperation in strengthening transport, energy, and digital connections with the Middle Corridor countries, and create partnership opportunities between government and private sector representatives in this regard.
The event was attended by representatives of the public and private sectors, companies operating in fields such as agriculture, trade, finance, transport-logistics, energy, as well as representatives from academic circles and experts.
The Permanent Representative of Azerbaijan to Geneva, Galib Israfilov, and the Permanent Representative of Turkmenistan, Vepa Hajiyev, delivered opening speeches.
The heads of the delegations of the Corridor countries presented overviews on investment opportunities in areas such as trade, transport, energy infrastructure, digitalization, and simplification of border crossings along the corridor. In his speech, the First Deputy Minister of Economy, Elnur Aliyev, provided detailed information on the transport corridors passing through Azerbaijan's territory, the country's logistics and freight transportation capabilities, government policy in this area, and the existing investment opportunities.
During the interactive session of the event, participants' questions were answered, and there was an exchange of ideas on potential areas of cooperation.
