The “Türkiye–Azerbaijan Trade Delegation and B2B Meetings” event is being held in Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan, under the coordination of the Turkish Ministry of Trade, organized by the Türkiye İhracatçılar Meclisi (TİM), in cooperation with Azerbaijan Export and Investment Promotion Agency (AZPROMO) and Azerbaijan Small and Medium Business Development Agency (KOBİA).
Speaking at the opening ceremony, Türkiye’s Ambassador to Baku, Birol Akgün, said the two countries aim to increase their bilateral trade volume to $15 billion in the medium term.
Akgün emphasized that Türkiye and Azerbaijan are working in close coordination to create the necessary climate of trust and long-term planning opportunities to enhance trade. He noted that growing regional and global interest in the area presents both risks and significant opportunities.
Referring to the normalization process between Azerbaijan and Armenia, Akgün said the Zangezur Corridor could mark a new beginning for strengthening the Middle Corridor along the east–west axis. In addition to energy, transportation, and construction, he highlighted strong potential in digital technologies, artificial intelligence, information technologies, and financial technologies. He added that support for private sector cooperation in these critical sectors would continue.
“We believe we can achieve our medium-term goal of increasing bilateral trade volume to $15 billion through joint efforts,” Akgün said. “Beyond that, as Türkiye and Azerbaijan, we aim to produce together, grow stronger together, and carry our countries toward more prosperous futures.”
Over 11,300 Turkish Firms Exported to Azerbaijan Last Year
TİM President Mustafa Gültepe stated that cultural, economic, and social ties between the two countries continue to strengthen each year and that new business partnerships would be established through trade at the event.
Representing more than 160,000 exporters across 27 sectors and 61 associations, TİM plays an active role in all foreign trade-related matters in Türkiye, Gültepe said, noting that trade delegations such as the one in Baku are a key part of their activities.
Although the two countries are strong regional actors, Gültepe noted that bilateral trade volume—currently around $7 billion—remains below the desired level. He stressed that as “one nation, two states,” the countries have the potential to raise this figure to $15 billion in the medium term.
He also pointed to the positive effects of the preferential trade agreement and its expanded protocol. Thanks to the advantages offered by the agreement, more than 11,300 Turkish companies exported to Azerbaijan last year.
By sector, chemical products ranked first with $537 million in exports, followed by defense and aerospace with $362 million, and electrical and electronics with $233 million. On the import side, chemicals, iron and non-ferrous metals, and textiles stand out.
Zangezur Corridor to Strengthen Regional Connectivity
Gültepe emphasized the importance of projects in Karabakh and Eastern Zangezur, stating that the Zangezur Corridor would provide uninterrupted land connectivity from Nakhchivan to Baku. He said the corridor would enable direct connection to the broader Turkic world for Türkiye, while positioning Azerbaijan as a global logistics hub.
He added that despite rising regional tensions and uncertainties, both countries must demonstrate a strong commitment to enhancing trade and cooperation.
35 Turkish Companies from 15 Sectors Participate
According to organizers, companies from Türkiye are holding one-on-one meetings with Azerbaijani business representatives throughout the day.
A total of 35 Turkish companies and 38 company representatives from 15 sectors are participating. These sectors include food, chemicals, cosmetics, automotive, construction, climate control systems, steel, industrial kitchen equipment, machinery, electrical and electronics, furniture, paper and forest products, footwear, home textiles, baby clothing, and software.
The program provides an important platform for establishing new partnerships, evaluating sectoral developments, and increasing bilateral trade volume between the two countries.
Source: Patronlar Dünyası/ Prepared by: İlayda Gök