BAKU, Azerbaijan, July 13. Azerbaijani Foreign
Minister Jeyhun Bayramov met with World Customs Organization (WCO)
Secretary General Ian Saunders on July 13, Azerbaijan's Foreign
Ministry said.
The sides discussed the current state and future prospects of
cooperation between Azerbaijan and the WCO, as well as issues
related to trade facilitation, border security, customs
digitalization, combating illicit trade, strengthening supply chain
resilience and enhancing customs capacity.
Bayramov emphasized Azerbaijan's commitment to close cooperation
with the WCO and briefed the secretary general on the country's
customs reforms, efforts to expand transit opportunities and
measures to facilitate international trade. He noted that
Azerbaijan's contribution to the development of the East-West and
North-South transport corridors plays an important role in
strengthening regional and global trade links.
The minister also provided an update on the new regional
realities, the peace process, and reconstruction and infrastructure
projects in Azerbaijan's formerly occupied territories.
Bayramov highlighted major initiatives aimed at further
strengthening Azerbaijan's position as a key transport and
logistics hub in Eurasia. He noted that increasing the capacity of
the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway, developing the Middle Corridor,
expanding the Port of Baku, and the operation of the Alat Free
Economic Zone are enhancing Azerbaijan's role in international
supply chains while creating new opportunities to improve customs
efficiency and facilitate trade.
The two sides underscored the importance of strengthening
international customs cooperation, expanding the use of innovative
technologies, improving information exchange and deepening
institutional cooperation.
They also exchanged views on other issues of mutual
interest.
