Ilham Aliyev Urges Central Asia to Expand Trade and Transport

President Ilham Aliyev of Azerbaijan addressed the 8th Consultative Meeting of the Heads of State of Azerbaijan and Central Asia on October 8, 2026, in Turkmenbashi, Turkmenistan. Aliyev reported that trade turnover between Azerbaijan and Central Asian nations grew by more than 50 percent last year, with over 400 Central Asian companies now operating within Azerbaijan.

Aliyev emphasized the strategic role of the Caspian Sea in connecting the region to international markets, specifically citing the growth of the Middle Corridor and the Digital Silk Way project. He called for the expanded use of joint investment funds established with Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Kyrgyzstan to build new manufacturing facilities and urged partners to move beyond trade toward joint production and external market entry.

Energy cooperation remained a central theme, with discussions focusing on the transit of oil from Turkmenistan and Kazakhstan through Azerbaijan and the creation of a green energy corridor with Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan. Aliyev also highlighted the dynamic bilateral relationship between Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan, noting five high-level visits since last year.

As a symbol of this partnership, Aliyev praised the construction of a mosque in Fuzuli, Azerbaijan. He described the project, initiated by Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow, as a gift reflecting the spiritual closeness and friendship between the two nations. He further acknowledged the support of Central Asian states in restoring Azerbaijan's liberated territories through the construction of cultural centers and schools.