Baku:Economic growth in Azerbaijan has been on a steady rise, particularly evident in the non-oil sector and electricity exports. From 2021 to 2025, the non-oil sector has grown by 1.5 times while electricity exports have doubled, as stated by Deputy Minister of Economy Samad Bashirli during his address at the 9th Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Dialogue.

According to Azeri-Press news agency, Bashirli highlighted the country's initiation of mega-regional projects in response to the increasing energy demand. These include the Caspian-Black Sea-Europe and Central Asia-Azerbaijan green energy corridors. The projects are significant for their focus on renewable energy, aligning with the Sustainable Development Goals, and involve investments and agreements for projects with a capacity of 8 gigawatts.

The Deputy Minister also emphasized the renewable energy projects in Karabakh, noting their integration into the Great Return program. These projects are part of the energy transition in liberated territories such as Karabakh, East Zangezur, and Aghdam, which have been declared a green energy zone. Hydropower plants, supported by both foreign investments and the public sector, are operational in these areas.

Bashirli further highlighted the Shafag solar power plant in the Jabrayil district, which has a generation capacity of 240 megawatts. He also noted similar initiatives in the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic, which is recognized as a green energy zone, where renewable energy projects receive particular support.