Category: Azer News

The economic reforms led by President Ilham Aliyev have significantly boosted the competitiveness of Azerbaijani entrepreneurs, said Minister of Economy Mikayil Jabbarov at the 2nd National Competition Forum.

Azernews reports, Jabbarov noted that the peace agreement signed on August 8 in the United States is expected to further strengthen international interest in Azerbaijan’s economy. He added that this development will also give rise to new opportunities for regional integration.

‘The core strength of our economic policy lies in the non-oil and gas sector,’ the minister emphasized. ‘Between 2021 and 2024, the non-oil sector has grown by 6.7%. Naturally, we are constantly looking for ways to accelerate this growth.’

Jabbarov also highlighted a major milestone: Azerbaijan’s non-oil exports have doubled over the past six years.

The 9th meeting of the Coordination Committee between the State Oil Company of the Republic of Azerbaijan (SOCAR) and Germany’s energy company Uniper was held recently.

Azernews reports, according to a statement from SOCAR that the meeting opened with remarks from SOCAR Vice President Elshad Nasirov, Uniper SE’s Chief Commercial Officer Karsten Poppinga, and Germany’s Ambassador to Azerbaijan, Dr. Ralf Horlemann.

Following the opening speeches, SOCAR Vice President Ziba Mustafayeva delivered the keynote address.

The speakers highlighted the ongoing success of the long-term and mutually beneficial partnership between SOCAR and Uniper. They emphasized the strategic importance of their joint projects in strengthening Europe’s energy security. Special attention was given to the continued efforts to expand cooperation between the two companies across various areas.

Presentations were also delivered on key topics including the SOCAR-Uniper partnership, the current status of the Southern Gas Corridor, European energy policy and emerging trends, energy transition, sustainability, decarbonization, public relations, and human resources strategies. These sessions sparked constructive discussions among participants.

The meeting also underscored the importance of enhancing cooperation in the areas of communication and corporate social responsibility.

At the conclusion of the event, SOCAR and Uniper signed a new Cooperation Program covering the years 2025-2026.

The successful development of relations between Azerbaijan and Korea is a source of great satisfaction, said President Ilham Aliyev in a congratulatory letter to President of the Republic of Korea Lee Jae Myung on the occasion of his country’s National Day, Azernews reports.

“Today, we have ample opportunities to further deepen our cooperation in a number of areas, particularly in economic-trade, industry, high technologies, digital transformation, science, education, and other areas.

I am confident that, in line with the interests of our friendly peoples, we will continue our joint efforts consistently to strengthen Azerbaijan-Korea relations and expand our cooperation,” the letter reads.

The two-day European Political Community (EPC) summit in Copenhagen concluded with a number of notable moments for Azerbaijan. President Ilham Aliyev held meetings with several European leaders, engaging in both political and economic consultations. Alongside discussions on bilateral relations, there was also an exchange of views with European Union leadership regarding Azerbaijan-Europe ties.

Among the most significant meetings was the encounter with French President Emmanuel Macron. In recent years, relations between Baku and Paris have been strained, with Azerbaijan strongly criticizing the biased approach of certain French politicians in the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict, as well as France’s colonialist undertones in global politics. French officials condemned this posture as a response; meanwhile, they have insisted that their position was ‘neutral.’

Despite this tension, there have been visible efforts in recent months to ease relations. Importantly, the disagreements were mostly political-economic cooperation, while occasionally affected, largely remained stable. Trade figures from January to August illustrate this: Azerbaijan exported goods worth $46,318,400 to France, while French exports to Azerbaijan stood at $159,398,940. According to the State Customs Committee’s data, this figure is nearly the same as in previous years, and France continues to be one of the leading trading nations in the EU.

The Aliyev-Macron meeting in Copenhagen signaled that both sides were interested in restoring relations. It is likely that the initiative came largely from the French side, which appears to have recognized that its previous missteps brought no benefit. France understands that worsening ties with Baku would undermine both its political influence and economic interests in the South Caucasus. It’s important to remember that we are already at the start of a quite ideal period in the region, and Paris wouldn’t wish to be one of the parties that misses this opportunity.

Azerbaijan’s growing influence-particularly after the Washington Agreement-has further elevated Baku’s role on the European stage. European leaders have openly congratulated President Aliyev and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan on the achievement, while also expressing their intention to strengthen ties with Azerbaijan. Even Macron, long accused of siding with Yerevan, has taken steps to improve relations.

This shift reflects a broader reality: Azerbaijan has become an indispensable player in regional and Eurasian affairs. The opening of the Zangezur corridor and progress in connectivity projects such as the Belt and Road initiative strengthen Europe’s access to alternative routes, reducing dependency on Russia. At the same time, Baku holds a unique position as the only actor capable of mediating with Trkiye and other Turkic states to facilitate the transport of Central Asian energy resources to the West.

For this reason, European leaders increasingly view President Ilham Aliyev as a key guarantor of regional stability and energy security. His participation in the EPC summit in Denmark serves as yet another indicator of Azerbaijan’s growing international weight.

It is also worth recalling that relations between Azerbaijan and France were once at a high point, particularly during the presidencies of François Mitterrand and Nicolas Sarkozy, and even in the early years of Macron’s rule. Azerbaijan has contributed to French cultural heritage projects such as the renovation of the Louvre Museum and the Notre Dame Cathedral, while French energy companies like Chevron have long been active in Azerbaijan’s Caspian energy sector.

The Copenhagen meeting, set against the backdrop of ongoing Armenia-Azerbaijan peace efforts, could therefore mark the beginning of a new era in French-Azerbaijani relations. France remains one of the leading powers in the EU, and for Azerbaijan-committed to strengthening ties with European states-relations with Paris retain strategic importance.

On October 3, as part of the 14th Session of the Statistical Commission of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) held in Ankara, a meeting took place at the Turkish Statistical Institute between the delegation led by the Chairman of Azerbaijan’s State Statistical Committee and Turkish officials.

Azernews reports that during the meeting, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on cooperation in the field of statistics was signed between the Government of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Government of the Republic of Trkiye.

The MoU was signed by Tahir Budagov, Chairman of Azerbaijan’s State Statistical Committee, and Erhan Çetinkaya, President of the Turkish Statistical Institute.

The agreement is expected to further strengthen and deepen bilateral cooperation in official statistics, support the integration of modern information and communication technologies in statistical production, and promote the exchange of best practices across various statistical domains.

Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan have held discussions on strengthening bilateral cooperation in the peaceful use of nuclear energy and atomic technologies, Azernews reports.

The talks were held between Chairman of the Kazakhstan Atomic Energy Agency, Almasadam Satkaliyev, and Azerbaijan’s Minister of Energy, Parviz Shahbazov.

The meeting focused on exchanging expertise in the regulation and oversight of the atomic industry, ensuring nuclear and radiation safety, environmental monitoring, and the handling of radioactive materials.

Both sides also discussed training and upskilling specialists, diversifying cooperation prospects, and introducing modern nuclear technologies.

‘Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan are brotherly nations, united by long-standing ties and a shared commitment to the safe and peaceful development of nuclear energy. We are determined to continue exchanging expertise and strengthening our cooperation, which will benefit both our countries and the wider region,’ said Satkaliyev.

Germany is an important partner for us, and we attach great importance to the comprehensive development of our bilateral relations, said President Ilham Aliyev in a congratulatory letter to President of the Federal Republic of Germany Frank-Walter Steinmeier, Azernews reports.

“Your visit to Azerbaijan in April gave a fresh impetus to the advancement of our cooperation, which encompasses a broad agenda.

I believe that we will continue our joint efforts to further develop the friendly relations between Azerbaijan and Germany, sustain our mutually beneficial cooperation across various fields, and enrich it with new content,” the letter reads.

Google has cut more than 100 design jobs, according to recent reports. Employees from the “quantitative user experience research” and “platform and service experience” teams within the cloud technology division, along with staff from several other departments, were laid off earlier this week, Azernews reports.

These roles typically involve using data, surveys, and other analytical tools to understand user behavior and influence product design decisions. The report also highlights that some cloud technology development teams have been reduced by as much as half, with a significant portion of the layoffs affecting employees based in the United States.

Some employees were reportedly given until early December to secure another position within Google. These layoffs come as part of broader organizational changes linked to the company’s increased focus and investment in artificial intelligence infrastructure. Just last month, Wired magazine revealed that over 200 contractors working on AI projects like Gemini and AI Overviews were also let go.

The report further pointed out underlying tensions related to wages and working conditions. Some insiders believe that the layoffs were partially intended to quell growing protests over low salaries and job insecurity.

Earlier this year, in February, Google also laid off staff from its cloud technology division, stating the need to concentrate on areas deemed ‘critical to our business and ensuring our long-term success.’

These cuts reflect the tech giant’s strategic pivot towards AI-driven innovation, which is reshaping how products are developed and delivered. However, the challenge remains balancing rapid technological advancement with maintaining employee morale and trust-a delicate act that many companies in Silicon Valley are currently navigating.

The open trial of several former leaders and figures of the separatist regime in Garabagh, charged with committing grave crimes against peace and humanity, will continue next week at the Baku Military Court, Azernews reports.

According to Azernews, the proceedings are scheduled for October 6 under the chairmanship of Judge Zeynal Agayev, with Judges Jamal Ramazanov and Anar Rzayev, and reserve Judge Gunel Samadova.

Among the defendants are Arayik Harutyunyan, Arkadi Ghukasyan, Bako Sahakyan, Davit Ishkhanyan, David Babayan, Levon Mnatsakanyan, and others. They face charges for crimes including the planning and conduct of aggressive war, genocide, war crimes, terrorism, financing terrorism, forcible seizure and retention of power, and multiple other violations arising from Armenia’s military aggression against Azerbaijan.

In total, 15 individuals are being tried within the criminal case, which reflects numerous offenses committed by Armenian state officials, armed forces, and illegal armed groups. According to the prosecution, these crimes were carried out under direct orders and instructions from Armenia’s leadership, with material, technical, and personnel support provided by the state.

The list of accused also includes former Armenian leaders and commanders such as Robert Kocharyan, Serzh Sargsyan, Vazgen Manukyan, Vazgen Sargsyan, Samvel Babayan, Vitali Balasanyan, Zori Balayan, Seyran Ohanyan, Monte Melkonyan, and others, who are cited as organizers and perpetrators of the crimes in question.

The charges cover a wide range of articles under the Criminal Code of Azerbaijan, including:

Article 100 – planning, preparing, initiating and waging a war of aggression;

Articles 102-107 – crimes against humanity, including genocide, extermination, slavery, deportation, and persecution;

Articles 109-116 – violations of international humanitarian law, torture, mercenary activity, and war crimes;

Articles 214-218, 278-279 – terrorism, financing of terrorism, creation of criminal organizations, forcible seizure of power, and establishment of illegal armed groups.

The court proceedings are viewed as a landmark step in holding accountable those responsible for crimes committed during Armenia’s decades-long aggression against Azerbaijan and its civilian population.

On October 1, a banquet was hosted in Copenhagen on behalf of King Frederik X and Queen Mary Elizabeth of Denmark.

President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev attended the event.