BAKU, Azerbaijan, September 15. Opportunities
for the Asian Development Bank (ADB) to support the implementation
of measures outlined in the State Program on Expanding Financial
Inclusion in Azerbaijan for 2027–2030 were discussed.


This was announced in a statement published by the Central Bank
of Azerbaijan (CBA) following the meeting between First Deputy
Chairman of the CBA, Aliyar Mammadyarov, and a delegation from the
ADB Board of Directors.


The meeting covered the country's macroeconomic situation,
reforms in the financial sector, and potential ADB support for
implementing the State Program on Expanding Financial Inclusion in
the Republic of Azerbaijan for 2027–2030, including issues related
to the development of green finance and capital markets.


Additionally, discussions focused on the key directions of the
ADB’s Country Partnership Strategy for Azerbaijan, prospects for
developing cooperation between the CBA and the ADB, and future
technical assistance projects.


According to the CBA, the volume of the ADB's direct investments
in the country's economy exceeded $2 million in the first quarter
of this year. This figure exceeds the level of the corresponding
period of last year by $455,000, or 28.1%.







According to the Ministry of Finance of Azerbaijan, a total of
$5.6 billion in financing has been provided for 160 projects within
the framework of cooperation with the bank since Azerbaijan became
a member of the ADB.


Partnership between Azerbaijan and ADB covers transport, energy,
water supply, and development of the private sector. The key
priorities in recent years include the strengthening of regional
interconnection, the development of the Middle Corridor and green
energy.


The ADB plans to deepen integration in the transport, trade, and
energy sectors along the Middle Corridor. In particular, the bank
is working over the strategy to transform the CAREC Corridor 2
transport route, which aligns with the Middle Corridor, into an
integrated economic corridor focusing on modernization of border
crossing points, digitalization of trade, and development of
logistics infrastructure.


ADB, together with the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank
(AIIB), is supporting the preparation of a feasibility study for
the Green Energy Corridor project. The project envisages the
transmission of green electricity from Central Asia to Azerbaijan
and onward to Europe via a subsea power cable across the Caspian
Sea.