Bashirli says Azerbaijan strengthens role as trade bridge between Europe and Asia

Azerbaijan plays a key role in trade links between Europe and Asia, serving as a natural bridge connecting Central Asia, the Caucasus, the Middle East and global markets, Deputy Economy Minister Samad Bashirli said.

Speaking at a session on strengthening trade solutions for regional connectivity held during the Islamic Development Bank Group’s annual meetings in Baku, Bashirli said trade was not only an economic activity but also an important tool for integration, sustainable development and shared prosperity.

He said Azerbaijan’s location at the crossroads of Europe and Asia, together with its position on the Middle Corridor, was reinforcing the country’s role in the region’s trade and transport architecture.

Bashirli noted that investments in transport infrastructure, logistics, ports, railways and digital communications had strengthened Azerbaijan’s position as a regional transit and trade hub.

He said Azerbaijan’s trade turnover with regional countries had more than doubled over the past five years, supported by the development of industrial zones, improvements in the business environment, modern infrastructure and support for the private sector.

At the same time, Bashirli pointed to persistent challenges to regional trade, including regulatory differences, limited access to trade finance and barriers to cross-border commerce.

Addressing these issues would require closer cooperation among governments, international partners, financial institutions and the private sector, he said.

N.Tebrizli