BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 3. The 16th meeting of
the Intergovernmental Commission on Trade and Economic Cooperation
between Azerbaijan and Belarus was held in Minsk, a source in the
Azerbaijani Cabinet of Ministers told Trend.


The meeting was chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Samir Sharifov
from the Azerbaijani side, and Deputy Prime Minister Natalya
Petkevich from the Belarusian side.


Speaking at the forum, Petkevich said that relations between
Azerbaijan and Belarus are based on time-tested friendship and
mutual trust. She noted that the goal set by the heads of state to
increase bilateral trade turnover to $1 billion indicates a high
potential for cooperation between the countries.


Petkevich emphasized that industrial cooperation, the
establishment of joint ventures, and cooperation in agriculture are
among the main development directions of bilateral relations. New
partnership opportunities and joint investment projects between
business circles were also discussed within the framework of the
forum.


Speaking at the meeting, Sharifov emphasized that
Azerbaijani-Belarusian relations are developing successfully on the
basis of mutual trust and high-level political dialogue formed
between the heads of state, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan
Ilham Aliyev and President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko. The
deputy prime minister pointed out that the Intergovernmental
Commission plays an important role in expanding cooperation between
the two countries and ensuring the implementation of the agreements
reached.


Sharifov noted that despite global economic challenges, trade
relations between Azerbaijan and Belarus are demonstrating positive
dynamics. During the first four months of 2026, mutual trade
turnover increased by more than 11% compared to the same period
last year, reaching $158 million. The parties agreed to implement
additional measures to further increase trade turnover, diversify
the export nomenclature, and expand investment cooperation.


The Azerbaijani official highlighted that the Azerbaijan Trade
House operating in Belarus plays an important role in the
development of bilateral trade relations. It was noted that this
platform makes a significant contribution to the promotion of
Azerbaijani products in the Belarusian market, the expansion of
exports, and the strengthening of business relations.


At the meeting, industrial cooperation was assessed as one of
the most promising areas of cooperation. It was noted that the
Ganja Automobile Plant successfully continues to produce tractors,
trucks, utility, and special equipment in cooperation with leading
industrial enterprises of Belarus.


The parties also discussed the possibilities of implementing new
joint projects in Azerbaijan in the fields of household appliances
production, elevator equipment assembly, pharmaceutical and
veterinary preparations production, as well as the preparation of
mineral fertilizers.







The meeting focused on joint projects implemented in the
liberated territories. The implementation of the agro-town project
with the participation of the Belarusian side in Gizil Kangarli
village of Azerbaijan's Aghdam district was highly appreciated. The
parties agreed on the timely implementation of the next stages of
the project and the continuation of cooperation in the direction of
creating agro-industrial complexes.


The issues of developing cooperation in the field of
agriculture, strengthening integration between food safety,
veterinary and phytosanitary control systems, and increasing mutual
exports of agricultural products were also widely discussed.


The development of cooperation in the field of transport and
logistics was also one of the main topics of the meeting. It was
noted that the volume of transit transportation increased by more
than 63% from January through April 2026. The parties agreed to
continue joint activities towards the digitalization of cargo
transportation, expansion of electronic information exchange, and
deepening cooperation on international transport routes.


The results achieved in the field of humanitarian cooperation
were also highly appreciated. It is planned to create new
cooperation mechanisms in the fields of culture, education,
healthcare, youth policy, and sports, expand the exchange of
specialists, and implement joint projects.


Within the framework of the meeting, the Final Protocol of the
16th meeting of the Azerbaijan-Belarus Intergovernmental
Commission, the Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation between
the State Statistical Committee of Azerbaijan and the National
Statistical Committee of Belarus, the Cooperation Program in the
Field of Physical Education and Sports for 2026–2030, the Roadmap
for Cooperation in the Field of Healthcare between the Ministries
of Health of Azerbaijan and Belarus for 2026–2027, and the
Agreement on the Assembly of Fire-Fighting Equipment between the
Ganja Automobile Plant and "POJSNAB" were signed.


Following the 16th meeting of the Azerbaijan-Belarus
Intergovernmental Commission, an Azerbaijan-Belarus business forum
was held with the participation of government representatives and
businessmen.


At the end of the meeting, the parties reaffirmed their
determination to continue joint efforts to strengthen the
Azerbaijan-Belarus strategic partnership, expand economic
cooperation, and develop relations in all areas of mutual
interest.


It was agreed to hold the next, 17th meeting of the
Azerbaijan-Belarus Intergovernmental Commission in Baku in
2027.