Istanbul: Azerbaijan’s Minister of Energy, Parviz Shahbazov, highlighted the country’s significant contributions to regional energy cooperation during the 5th Meeting of the Ministers in Charge of Energy of the Organization of Turkic States held in Istanbul, Trkiye.
According to Azerbaijan State News Agency, Shahbazov emphasized the strong Azerbaijani-Turkish alliance and its influence on relations with other Turkic states. This strategic partnership is shaping the Turkic World family, bolstering the Organization of Turkic States’ regional authority and global geopolitical significance.
The minister underscored the achievements during Azerbaijan’s chairmanship of the organization, focusing on the strategic relations with Turkic states in line with President Ilham Aliyev’s vision for the 21st century as the era of the Turkic world. Azerbaijan’s integration into the Central Asian cooperation format and the progress on the Zangazur Corridor were noted as pivotal in enhancing unity among Turkic states.
Trade between Azerbaijan and other member and observer countries surpassed $7.3 billion last year, with the energy sector making up a substantial portion of mutual investments exceeding $20 billion. Notably, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, and Turkmenistan exported approximately 53 million tons of oil through the BTC pipeline. Azerbaijan’s energy partnerships also facilitated the supply of 366 million cubic meters of gas to Syria, alongside other significant gas exports to Trkiye and Europe.
The meeting also highlighted Azerbaijan’s commitment to transporting renewable energy across diversified routes to Trkiye and European markets, aligning with the Turkish Green Vision and the Gabala Declaration. Key projects such as the Trans-Caspian and various green energy corridors were discussed as initiatives strengthening Turkic unity through energy collaboration. Shahbazov expressed support for Trkiye’s upcoming hosting of COP31.
In addition, the ministers discussed initiatives such as establishing a Regional Center for Technologies and Green Initiatives and an Expert Council on Energy Efficiency. They agreed to convene the next Ministerial Meeting in Uzbekistan.