Uzhhorod:The 14th meeting of the Intergovernmental Commission on Economic Cooperation between Azerbaijan and Ukraine took place in Uzhhorod, Ukraine. The meeting was co-chaired by Azerbaijan's Minister of Energy, Parviz Shahbazov, and Ukraine's First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Energy, Denys Shmyhal. Discussions focused on the current state and future prospects of political and economic relations between the two countries, covering areas such as trade, investment, energy, transport, technology, culture, science, and tourism.
According to Azerbaijan State News Agency, Minister Shahbazov highlighted the strong political foundation of Azerbaijan-Ukraine relations, which are based on strategic partnership and mutual trust. He noted that despite various challenges, economic and trade relations have shown significant potential. In the first eight months of the year, bilateral trade increased by 10.5%, and Azerbaijan's exports to Ukraine grew by 17%. Additionally, cumulative bilateral investment reached USD 513.5 million, with 290 Ukrainian investment-backed commercial entities operating in Azerbaijan.
The meeting identified opportunities for expanding cooperation in renewable energy, energy efficiency, and energy storage technologies. The significance of developing the Caspian-Black Sea-Europe Green Energy Corridor was emphasized for enhancing regional energy connectivity. The discussions also covered Azerbaijan's humanitarian support for Ukraine's reconstruction, amounting to around USD 52 million since the war's outbreak, including aid for energy infrastructure and social facility restoration in Irpin.
Denys Shmyhal, Ukraine's First Deputy Prime Minister, expressed gratitude for Azerbaijan's support and solidarity, noting the importance of the energy assistance packages provided by Azerbaijan in restoring Ukraine's energy supplies. The meeting concluded with the signing of a Protocol on the outcomes and the adoption of an Action Plan for 2026-2027, covering measures across 14 areas.
An Azerbaijan-Ukraine Business Roundtable was held alongside the meeting, where Minister Shahbazov emphasized the role of the private sector and joint investments in bolstering economic cooperation. Areas identified for further collaboration included energy, agro-industry, food processing, logistics, and manufacturing. Azerbaijani companies were encouraged to participate in Ukraine's industrial parks and reconstruction projects.
During the visit, the delegation toured a wind turbine manufacturing facility and the ATEF enterprise at Khust Industrial Park to learn about their operations.