BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 30. The 11th meeting
of the Joint Intergovernmental Commission on Economic Cooperation
between Azerbaijan and Georgia was held in Sighnaghi town, Kakheti
region of Georgia, co-chaired by Prime Ministers Ali Asadov and
Irakli Kobakhidze.
This was reported by the Azerbaijani Cabinet of Ministers.
According to the report, the meeting included an exchange of
views on the current state and future development prospects of the
strategic partnership between Azerbaijan and Georgia, as well as on
expanding cooperation in areas such as trade and economy,
investment, energy, transport and transit, agriculture, culture,
and humanitarian affairs.
Asadov noted that high-level political dialogue and reciprocal
visits play a decisive role in the development of bilateral
relations. In this context, it was highlighted that the agreements
reached during the state visit of the President of the Republic of
Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev to Georgia in April of this year, as well
as the visit of the Prime Minister of Georgia to Azerbaijan in May,
have reaffirmed the strategic nature of the cooperation between the
two nations and provided fresh impetus for the expansion of
collaboration across various sectors.
During the meeting, it was emphasized with satisfaction that
Azerbaijan and Georgia cooperate effectively within the framework
of international organizations, demonstrating mutual support,
particularly regarding issues of state sovereignty and territorial
integrity.
The positive dynamics of trade and economic cooperation were
highly commended. At the meeting, it was highlighted that Georgia
is one of Azerbaijan’s key trading partners. The meeting noted that
in the first nine months of the current year, trade turnover
between the two countries increased by 42%, surpassing the total
figure for the previous year and approaching $1 billion.
The meeting also remarked that cooperation in the investment
sphere is developing successfully, with Azerbaijan being one of the
largest investors in the Georgian economy.
Emphasizing the positive momentum in the implementation of joint
investment projects, the opening of a new hotel in Tbilisi,
realized by an Azerbaijani investor, was cited as a prime example
of this cooperation.
During the meeting, it was stressed that the energy sector is
one of the key pillars of the strategic partnership between
Azerbaijan and Georgia. The meeting highlighted that large-scale
joint energy projects, such as the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline
and the Southern Gas Corridor, have played a significant role in
ensuring energy security for both the region and Europe.
The meeting emphasized the successful ongoing cooperation in the
electric power sector, highlighting that Azerbaijan provided prompt
assistance in response to a request from the Georgian side
following a crisis in Georgia’s energy system in July this
year.
During the meeting, special attention was devoted to the
prospects for cooperation in the field of renewable energy. The
importance of ongoing efforts to establish a corridor for the
transport of green energy to Europe, involving both Azerbaijan and
Georgia, was underscored.
Cooperation in the transport and transit sector was also a
primary topic of discussion. The meeting noted that Azerbaijan and
Georgia serve as key partners in the development of international
transport corridors, with particular emphasis on the importance of
joint efforts to enhance the competitiveness and transit potential
of the Middle Corridor. Issues regarding the expansion of
border-crossing capabilities within the framework of transport
infrastructure development were also reviewed.
The significance of the project to establish a joint
border-crossing point, "Silk Road (Aghstafa) – Abreshumis Gza
(Gardabani)", on the Azerbaijan-Georgia state border was
highlighted. Confidence was expressed that the document intended
for signing during the meeting, concerning the practical
implementation of this project, would contribute to accelerating
the relevant work.
The meeting emphasized significant potential for developing
cooperation in the agricultural sector. Confidence was expressed
that the bilateral documents to be signed during the meeting,
covering plant quarantine and protection, as well as veterinary
matters, would help simplify relevant control procedures and
increase the mutual trade of agricultural products.
The meeting also addressed issues related to environmental
protection and the efficient use of water resources. Emphasizing
the strategic importance of the Kura river basin for both
countries, the necessity of increasing joint efforts toward the
protection, prevention of pollution, and sustainable management of
transboundary water resources was noted.
The meeting noted that cultural and humanitarian cooperation
constitutes an important component of Azerbaijan-Georgia relations.
The special role of interaction in the fields of culture,
education, and humanitarian affairs in preserving and developing
the historical ties of friendship between the two peoples was
stressed.
Members of the delegations delivered reports regarding the
issues on the agenda.
At the conclusion of the meeting, Prime Ministers Ali Asadov and
Irakli Kobakhidze signed the Protocol of the 11th meeting of the
Joint Intergovernmental Commission on Economic Cooperation between
Azerbaijan and Georgia.
