BAKU, Azerbaijan,
October 9. Azerbaijan's chairmanship of
the Consultative Meeting in 2027 creates additional opportunities
for regional cooperation, political analyst Azer Garayev told
Trend.
According to him, the 8th Consultative Meeting of the Heads of
State of Azerbaijan and Central Asia, held on October 8 in the city
of Turkmenbashi, Turkmenistan, marked a significant event in the
development of inter-regional cooperation.
He said that the meeting is important in terms of expanding
Azerbaijan's relations with Central Asian countries, deepening
economic and transport ties, and advancing new regional
initiatives.
“Furthermore, the fact that Azerbaijan will assume the
chairmanship of this format in 2027 creates additional
opportunities for the next stage of cooperation.
Azerbaijan’s participation in the Consultative Meeting as a
full-fledged member was made possible by a decision adopted in
November 2025. This step has paved the way for developing existing
political, economic, and cultural ties between Azerbaijan and
Central Asian nations within a broader regional framework. The
interests of countries situated on both shores of the Caspian Sea
align in many areas. Expanding cooperation in trade, energy,
transport, investment, and regional security enhances the practical
significance of this format.
In his address, President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev emphasized
that Azerbaijan's relations with Central Asian countries have
expanded significantly in recent years. According to President
Aliyev, Azerbaijan's trade turnover with Central Asian nations
increased by more than 50% last year:
"Today, over 400 companies with capital from Central Asian
countries are actively operating in our country. In recent years,
Azerbaijan has established joint investment funds with Kazakhstan,
Uzbekistan, and Kyrgyzstan. Each of these funds has capital
amounting to hundreds of millions of dollars.
These indicators demonstrate that cooperation is no longer
limited to mere political dialogue and reciprocal visits," the
analyst noted.
Garayev pointed out that increasing mutual investments,
establishing joint ventures, and pooling production capabilities
could pave the way for more resilient economic ties between the
countries.
"The statement expressed by President Ilham Aliyev, “We must not
limit ourselves to increasing mutual trade; we must also invest
together, produce together, and enter foreign markets together”,
captures the essence of this approach, which is also significant
for making more effective use of the economic potential of the
region's countries. Joint production projects and industrial
cooperation can expand the results that countries could achieve
individually and facilitate access to new markets. The proposal by
Uzbekistan's President Shavkat Mirziyoyev to hold the Central
Asia–Azerbaijan business forum in Khiva in 2027 also demonstrates
an interest in developing economic ties through concrete projects
and joint production chains," the analyst said.
He emphasized that another important area of cooperation is
transport and logistics. The Caspian Sea serves as a key route
connecting Central Asian countries to international markets via
Azerbaijan.
“The development of ports, railways, highways, and other
transport infrastructure expands the potential of these
connections. Meanwhile, the Middle Corridor is gaining increasing
importance for the diversification of freight transport between
Asia and Europe. According to data released by President Ilham
Aliyev, the volume of transit freight along the Middle Corridor
increased by more than 10% last year, and by approximately another
20% during the first eight months of 2026. This dynamic not only
demonstrates the route's growth potential but also highlights the
necessity of further improving infrastructure and logistics
services. Azerbaijan's geographical location, transport network,
and role in organizing shipments across the Caspian Sea are key
factors facilitating access to global markets for Central Asian
countries.
Opportunities also exist for expanding cooperation in the energy
sector. The transportation of oil from Turkmenistan and Kazakhstan
through Azerbaijani territory is a significant aspect of energy
ties. Furthermore, Azerbaijan is working with Kazakhstan and
Uzbekistan to establish a green energy corridor. Initiatives such
as laying fiber-optic cables across the Caspian seabed and the
Digital Silk Road project demonstrate that regional ties are not
limited to physical infrastructure alone, but that digital
connectivity has also become an integral part of cooperation,"
Garayev noted.
According to him, issues of security and political stability
were also a key focus of the meeting.
"President Ilham Aliyev stated that “peace, security, and
political and economic stability in our countries underpin all our
achievements.” This statement underscores that the sustainability
of economic cooperation among the countries of the region depends
on a favorable political environment. Strengthening mutual trust
between states also bolsters the long-term prospects of transport,
energy, and investment projects.
Proposals regarding cooperation in the fields of culture,
tourism, science, and technology were also voiced during the
Consultative Meeting. President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev
proposed drafting a declaration on the responsible use of
artificial intelligence and creating a unified calendar of regional
events. Meanwhile, President of Kyrgyzstan Sadyr Zhaparov put
forward ideas for establishing a unified e-commerce platform and
developing tourism routes spanning multiple countries. These
proposals demonstrate that the format encompasses humanitarian and
technological spheres alongside economic issues," Garayev
mentioned.
The analyst pointed out that Azerbaijan's chairmanship of the
Consultative Meeting in 2027 opens up additional opportunities for
the development of all these areas.
"This will enable the country to play a more active role in
shaping the regional agenda, advancing joint projects, and ensuring
the continuity of dialogue among the states. The views expressed by
the presidents of Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan that Azerbaijan's
chairmanship will give new impetus to cooperation also reflect the
attention being paid to this stage.
Thus, the 8th Consultative Meeting has once again highlighted
the importance of complementing political dialogue with economic
and practical cooperation in relations between Azerbaijan and
Central Asian countries. Increasing mutual investments, developing
transport routes, expanding energy connections, and implementing
joint production projects remain the key areas of this cooperation.
Azerbaijan's chairmanship for the coming year could serve as a
crucial stage for coordinating existing initiatives and advancing
new projects," Garayev added.
