BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 21. As part of the
visit to Spain by an Azerbaijani delegation led by First Deputy
Minister of Economy Elnur Aliyev, discussions were held on
strengthening joint activities in various economic sectors of the
two countries, and a partnership “Roadmap” was adopted, Trend reports, citing the
Ministry of Economy.
The visit included a Spanish-Azerbaijani roundtable, the Second
Spanish-Azerbaijani Strategic Economic Dialogue, and meetings with
Spanish officials.
The Spanish-Azerbaijani roundtable was held in Madrid.
Representatives of government agencies and companies from both
nations participated in the event.
First Deputy Minister of Economy Elnur Aliyev emphasized that
Azerbaijan attaches great importance to its relations with Spain.
It was noted that there is significant potential for expanding
joint activities with Spain in trade, investment, energy, the
transport and logistics sector, agriculture, technology,
innovation, and other areas. It is of utmost importance for our
countries to translate this potential into tangible results.
Information was also provided on Azerbaijan’s business environment.
It was noted that the country has investment platforms in place
that support trade, manufacturing, and logistics. In this context,
attention was drawn to the opportunities created for investors in
the Alat Free Economic Zone, industrial zones located near the Baku
International Sea Trade Port, as well as in the Karabakh and East
Zangezur economic regions.
Spain’s Secretary of State for Trade, María Amparo López
Senovilla, highly praised the development of bilateral economic
relations and shared her views on expanding mutual investment and
business ties.
At the roundtable, Inmaculada Riera i Reñé, Director General of
the Spanish Chamber of Commerce and Industry; Marta Blanco, Chair
of the International Relations Commission of the Spanish
Confederation of Business Organizations; and Ramiz Hasanov,
Azerbaijan’s Ambassador to Spain, highlighted opportunities for
expanding Azerbaijani-Spanish economic ties.
The event featured a presentation on Azerbaijan’s investment
climate and business opportunities, as well as a discussion on
strengthening the partnership.
The visit by the Azerbaijani delegation included the 2nd
Strategic Economic Dialogue between Spain and Azerbaijan. The event
highlighted that there are favorable opportunities to increase
trade, expand investment flows, and strengthen cooperation in
priority areas through the Economic Dialogue mechanism. At the same
time, the importance of developing the partnership within a broader
institutional framework in the future was noted. A Protocol on the
2nd meeting of the Strategic Economic Dialogue between the Republic
of Azerbaijan and the Kingdom of Spain was signed at the event, and
a Roadmap was adopted as an annex to the Protocol, providing for
partnership in trade, investment, transport, and transit, and other
areas.
At a meeting between First Deputy Minister of Economy Elnur
Aliyev and Amparo López Senovilla, State Secretary for Trade of the
Kingdom of Spain, the issues of increasing bilateral trade,
expanding investment cooperation, strengthening ties between
business communities, and other topics were discussed.
During discussions with Pedro Puy Fraga, Chairman of the
Committee on Economy, Trade, and Digital Transformation of the
Chamber of Deputies of the Kingdom of Spain, the contribution of
interparliamentary relations to economic cooperation was
highlighted. At the same time, information was presented on
Azerbaijan’s role as a strategic logistics and energy hub in the
region, its potential within the Middle Corridor, transport links,
and investment prospects for Spanish companies.
The meeting was held with representatives of Spain’s Ministries
of Digital Transformation, Transport and Sustainable Mobility, and
Agriculture, Fisheries, and Food. The meeting emphasized the
importance of developing the digital economy, data-driven solutions
in public administration, strengthening the innovation ecosystem,
and exchanging expertise in the fields of transport logistics and
food security.
In a meeting with Jaime Lillo López, Executive Director of the
International Olive Council, the parties discussed Azerbaijan’s
activity within the organization, the application of international
standards in olive cultivation, technical cooperation,
certification, expert support, and access for local producers to
international markets.
