President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan received Prime Minister Ali Asadov of Azerbaijan at the Presidential Complex.
11th Term Joint Economic Commission Protocol signed between Türkiye and Azerbaijan
Four agreements, as well as the 11th Term Joint Economic Commission (KEK) Protocol, are signed between Türkiye and Azerbaijan
Vice President Cevdet Yılmaz and Prime Minister Ali Asadov held both in-person and inter-delegations meetings at the Presidential Complex.
The 11th Term of the Türkiye-Azerbaijan Joint Economic Commission Meeting, presided over by Yılmaz and Asadov, ensued after the preceding meetings.
Following the meeting, the signing ceremony of the agreements between the two countries took place.
In addition to the KEK Protocol with 120 items, Yılmaz and Asadov witnessed the signing of the following agreements within the scope of the commission before.
- Memorandum of Understanding between the Foreign Economic Relations Board (DEİK) and the Small and Medium Business (SMB) Development Agency of the Republic of Azerbaijan
- Memorandum of Understanding on the Establishment of a Joint Working Group on Trade Facilitation between the Ministry of Trade of the Republic of Türkiye and the Ministry of Economy of the Republic of Azerbaijan
- Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Türkiye and the Government of Azerbaijan on Cooperation in the Field of Water
- Declaration of Goodwill between the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry of the Republic of Türkiye and the Food Safety Agency of the Republic of Azerbaijan on Cooperation in Combating Animal Diseases
"We strive to enhance our bilateral relationship across various domains"
Yılmaz, who made a press statement with Asadov following the signing ceremony, said that the robust leadership, friendship and resolute nature of President Erdoğan and President Ilham Aliyev of Azerbaijan were pivotal factors in the progression of bilateral cooperation.
Yılmaz stated that they have executed 74%, that is 64 out of 86 actions outlined in the action plan that was signed during the tenth term and that they consider the KEK mechanism crucial for further strengthening economic ties between the two brotherly nations.
Vice President Yılmaz continued:
"In our new action plan, we have 120 action items on topics such as trade, investment, industry, technology, digital transformation, agriculture, forestry, water, food safety, energy, mining, environment, urbanization, education, science, culture, tourism, youth and sports, health, disaster-emergency, finance, migration and diaspora. In our 11th Term Action Plan, there are actions such as developing cooperation among SMEs, exchanging experiences in the field of public-private sector cooperation, signing a new land route agreement, strengthening cooperation in the Middle Corridor, organizing the 4th meeting of the Energy Forum, developing cooperation among universities, organizing a youth forum, strengthening cooperation in the field of development of liberated regions, and working towards signing a free trade agreement. Our objective for the upcoming period is to expedite the development of our bilateral relations in various domains through the efficient and prompt implementation of these action items in collaboration with our Azerbaijani counterparts."
"Our goal is to reach a trade volume of 15 billion dollars as soon as possible"
Stating that on the occasion of the meeting, they exchanged views on ways to strengthen the commercial and economic relations between the two countries, deepen existing cooperation, identify new areas of cooperation and develop joint projects, Yılmaz pointed out that the bilateral trade volume with Azerbaijan reached 7.5 billion dollars in 2023, with Türkiye ranking second in Azerbaijan's exports and third in imports.
Emphasizing that they are very pleased to be one of the most important trade partners of Azerbaijan, Yılmaz said:
"Our goal is to reach a trade volume of 15 billion dollars set by our President as soon as possible" We are halfway through, and we believe that we will achieve the rest swiftly in the coming period. In this regard, we are expanding the scope of our Preferential Trade Agreement, which entered into force in 2021. We intend to finish the internal ratification processes for the Protocol on the Expansion of the Scope as soon as possible, thereby improving our business people's access to the Turkish and Azerbaijani markets. These efforts will make it easier to reach our trade volume target. We will hopefully crown preferential trade with free trade in the medium term."
Stating that they aim to make trade much easier and faster with measures such as improving transportation facilities, simplifying customs, and improving customs gates, Yılmaz said that Türkiye's investments in Azerbaijan have reached 13 billion dollars, and these figures will increase with the addition of investments from third countries.
Saying that Azerbaijan's investments in Türkiye amounted to 21 billion dollars, Yılmaz added, "Our contractors have undertaken 526 projects worth 19.3 billion dollars in Azerbaijan so far. We are ready and willing to increase our investments in Azerbaijan in the following period and to contribute to all projects for the development of Azerbaijan's infrastructure and superstructure, especially in the regions liberated from occupation."
Stating that they will continue to support each other to make the Century of Türkiye the century of Azerbaijan-Türkiye brotherhood, Yılmaz said, "We will continue on this path guided by the understanding of one nation and two states in fateful unity in good times, bad times, peaceful and troubled times."
Azerbaijan-Armenia Relations
Expressing the expectation of a positive outcome from the meeting to be held in Almaty on May 10, President Erdoğan stated that the progress achieved in the peace process between Armenia and Azerbaijan is satisfactory and that the peace agreement should be signed as soon as possible, so that the region achieves the stability it longs for.
President Erdoğan pointed out that Türkiye and Azerbaijan will maintain their close cooperation in order to prevent unilateral and biased external interventions from turning the region into an area of geopolitical conflict and stated that Türkiye's comprehensive support for brother Azerbaijan will continue.
Stressing that Israel seeks to spread the war to the region and that although Hamas accepted the ceasefire, Israel continues its attacks, President Erdoğan stated that the Organization of Turkic States might engage in further cooperation to deliver humanitarian aid to civilians in Gaza.
President Erdoğan congratulated Azerbaijan on hosting the next United Nations Climate Change Conference and stated that Türkiye stands ready for all sorts of support in terms of preparations.
Minister of Transport and Infrastructure Abdulkadir Uraloğlu, Minister of National Education Yusuf Tekin, Minister of Digital Development and Transport Rashad Nabiyev and Minister of Science and Education Emin Amrullayev were also present at the meeting.