Category: Azer News

Two Spanish F-18 fighter jets were scrambled after an unidentified air target was detected near Romania’s border with Ukraine, Romania’s Digi24 reported, citing the country’s Defense Ministry.

The radar surveillance system detected an air target flying over Ukrainian territory east of the city of Izmail, near the river border with Romania.

The two Spanish F-18s, deployed in Romania as part of NATO’s enhanced air policing mission, were sent up to monitor the situation.

Romania’s National Military Command Center also alerted the General Inspectorate for Emergency Situations about the incident and the possibility of danger to people in northern Tulcea County. Local residents were warned through the RO-Alert system.

Romania’s Defense Ministry said no unauthorized entry into the country’s airspace had been recorded. The incident occurred over an area near Ukraine’s Danube coast and the Romanian border.

Airspace monitoring in Romania’s border areas has been stepped up in recent days amid intensified attacks on Ukrainian Danube ports.

A delegation from the Ministry of Defense of the Republic of Uzbekistan is visiting Azerbaijan to attend the 6th Azerbaijan International Defence Exhibition “ADEX-2026” held at the Baku Expo Center and the Distinguished Visitors Day of the “Power of Unity – 2026” joint military exercise.

On September 30, as part of the meetings held during the international exhibition, the Minister of Defense of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Colonel General Zakir Hasanov, met with the Minister of Defense of the Republic of Uzbekistan, Lieutenant General Shukhrat Khalmukhamedov.

Welcoming the distinguished guest, Colonel General Zakir Hasanov once again emphasized that military cooperation between the two countries is rooted in friendship, brotherhood, allied relations, and shared historical and cultural ties. Defense Minister also highlighted the importance of mutual visits and constructive meetings in furthering the positive development of bilateral relations.

Expressing his satisfaction with his visit to the brotherly country, Lieutenant General Shukhrat Khalmukhamedov noted that the participation of military personnel from both countries in international events and joint military exercises, as well as the exchange of experience and the establishment of friendly relations, have contributed positively to the expansion of bilateral cooperation. He expressed his deep gratitude to Colonel General Zakir Hasanov for the high-level organization and conduct of the “Power of Unity – 2026” joint military exercise.

The sides discussed the current state and prospects for the development of cooperation between the two countries in the military, military education, and military-technical fields. They also held detailed discussions on issues of coomon interest.

At the conclusion of the meeting, the Bilateral Military Cooperation Plan for 2027 was signed between the Ministries of Defense of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Republic of Uzbekistan.

The decline in purchasing power in France has become one of the most noticeable economic concerns of recent years. In 2025, household purchasing power fell by 0.7%, and a similar decline is expected this year. Such a situation has occurred only twice since 1960 – in 1983-1984 and again between 2010 and 2013.

According to calculations by the French Institute of Economics, the decline in purchasing power since 2024 has resulted in an average real loss of around pound 1,200 for a family of four. For a single person, the loss is estimated at approximately pound 600.

Experts point to inflation and slower growth in real wages as the main factors behind the decline. Since 2019, consumer prices have increased by 21.3%, while wages have risen by only 18.7%. At the same time, the unemployment rate increased from 7.2% at the beginning of 2023 to 8.3%, putting additional pressure on household budgets.

The impact has been particularly noticeable among middle-income families. Between 2019 and 2024, wages declined in real terms in 222 of the 343 professions surveyed by France’s National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies (INSEE).

As everyday expenses have increased, French consumers have also started changing their shopping habits. More people are looking for discounts, comparing prices and choosing cheaper products, including supermarket brands. Some households are also cutting back on non-essential purchases, such as eating out, entertainment and travel.

Interestingly, purchasing power is not only about how much money people earn – it is also about what that money can actually buy. Even when salaries increase, households can feel poorer if prices for food, housing, energy and other essential goods rise faster than their incomes.

Experts warn that if purchasing power continues to decline in 2027, consumer behavior could change even further, potentially leading to more cautious spending and greater demand for low-cost products and promotions.

The experience of the war that ended with Azerbaijan’s victory demonstrated once again that modern technology, agile decision-making and reliable domestic production capabilities are important elements of national security, Azerbaijan’s Defense Industry Minister Vugar Mustafayev said.

Mustafayev made the remarks at the opening ceremony of ADEX-2026, the 6th Azerbaijan International Defense Exhibition, and Securex Caspian, the 15th anniversary International Exhibition for Internal Security, Protection and Rescue Equipment.

The minister said the experience of the war had also had a significant impact on shaping the future development priorities of Azerbaijan’s defense industry. In line with this approach, one of the important steps taken in recent years has been to increase the involvement of the private sector in the defense industry.

‘Today, more than 20 local private organizations are presenting their products and solutions at the ADEX exhibition. Most of them are already involved in supplying the Armed Forces. Several have also started export activities,’ Mustafayev said.

He added that final testing is currently underway for a number of new products and that the government expects the share of local companies in defense supplies to increase in the coming period.

‘Our approach is that a strong national defense industry cannot be built solely on the capabilities of state-owned enterprises. The institutional and production capabilities of the state must be complemented by the flexibility, initiative, innovation potential and investment capacity of the private sector,’ the minister said.

According to Mustafayev, such a cooperation model can contribute to the development of a more competitive and sustainable defense industry ecosystem.

A new major investment phase is beginning in Azerbaijan’s energy sector. The adoption of the final investment decision on the full-scale development of the Absheron gas-condensate field could turn the project into one of the main sources of Azerbaijan’s gas production and export capacity in the coming years. Capital investment of approximately $4.2 billion is involved, and the main question is how much economic value this investment will create for Azerbaijan.

The recoverable gas reserves of Absheron are estimated at approximately 140 billion cubic meters. The first phase of the field came on stream in 2023 and has the capacity to produce 1.5 billion cubic meters of gas per year and 12,000 barrels of condensate per day. The new Full Field Development phase will increase the field’s total gas production to 6 billion cubic meters per year and condensate production to 47,000 barrels per day. The new phase is expected to come on stream in 2029.

The key figure here is the additional 4.5 billion cubic meters of gas. This is a significant volume for Azerbaijan’s gas market. In a simple calculation, if the average selling price of 1,000 cubic meters of gas is $200, the annual gross sales value of 4.5 billion cubic meters of gas could amount to approximately $900 million. If the price is $250, this figure would rise to $1.125 billion, and at $300, it would reach $1.35 billion.

However, Absheron’s economic potential is not limited to gas. The second phase of the project is planned to produce approximately 35,000 barrels of condensate per day. This amounts to approximately 12.8 million barrels per year. If the average price of condensate is assumed to be $60, its annual gross sales value could reach approximately $767 million. Thus, purely for illustrative purposes, in a scenario where the average gas price is $200 and the condensate price is $60, the annual gross product value of the new phase could be approximately $1.67 billion.

Here, however, an important warning is necessary: $1.67 billion is the theoretical sales value of the product. Production and operating costs, transportation, maintenance, taxes and other payments must be deducted from this amount. In addition, the project’s revenues are divided among the partners according to their respective shares. Currently, SOCAR and TotalEnergies each hold a 35% stake, while XRG holds a 30% stake.

From this perspective, Azerbaijan’s revenue does not automatically mean 35% of the project’s total revenue. SOCAR will receive revenue according to its share, while the state may receive additional revenues through taxes and other economic mechanisms. Therefore, when assessing Absheron’s real impact on the Azerbaijani economy, it is not sufficient to look only at the market price of gas.

On the other hand, Absheron strengthens Azerbaijan’s domestic gas supply. Gas produced during the first phase is directed to the domestic market. Following the new phase, the gas is planned to be supplied both to the domestic market and exported to Trkiye. According to the information provided, exports will provide access to the Turkish and European gas markets through the existing infrastructure.

This is particularly important for Azerbaijan. As we know, gas exports also determine Azerbaijan’s role in the regional energy system. The additional volumes from Absheron could help support the country’s gas portfolio against changes in production from other fields over time.

On the other hand, the payback period for the $4.2 billion investment remains one of the key economic questions. For example, if the annual gross product value of $1.67 billion mentioned above were simply divided mechanically by $4.2 billion, the result would be a period of slightly more than 2.5 years.

A proper economic assessment would need to take into account the project’s operating costs, the production profile over the years, gas and condensate prices, taxes, the partners’ financing shares and the revenue-sharing terms of the contract.

This is precisely where Absheron’s main economic story lies. Azerbaijan is not investing $4.2 billion in infrastructure simply to produce another 4.5 billion cubic meters of gas. The aim is to turn existing gas reserves in the Caspian Sea into a long-term commercial asset, strengthen domestic supply and create additional volumes for export.

If gas and condensate prices remain favorable, Absheron could generate billions of dollars in additional product turnover for Azerbaijan over the coming decades. The key question, however, is how much of this gross value will be converted into net profit, and how much will accrue to SOCAR, the state budget and the Azerbaijani economy as a whole. These indicators will ultimately determine the real economic outcome of the $4.2 billion investment.

A Memorandum of Cooperation has been signed between the Azerbaijan State Academic National Drama Theatre and the Nakhchivan State National Drama Theatre to develop creative and partnership ties between the two institutions.

Representatives of both theatres first visited the monument to National Leader Heydar Aliyev and laid flowers in his memory. They later visited the Heydar Aliyev Museum, where they viewed exhibits reflecting his life and activities.

The memorandum was signed by Ilham Asgarov, director of the Azerbaijan State Academic National Drama Theatre and Honored Cultural Worker, and Mir Gabil Akbarov, director of the Nakhchivan State National Drama Theatre.

Speaking at the ceremony, Ilham Asgarov described the document as a strategic bridge between the theatrical communities of Baku and Nakhchivan. He said the cooperation would bring together the creative potential of the two theatres and open new opportunities for the younger generation.

Mir Gabil Akbarov described the partnership as an important development, noting that it could help the Nakhchivan theatre expand its presence not only across Azerbaijan but also at international theatre festivals.

The memorandum provides for creative exchanges between the theatres representing the regional identities of Baku and Nakhchivan, discussions on new artistic platforms of the 21st century, joint theatre productions and festivals, as well as forums and master classes.

The ceremony concluded with an exchange of commemorative gifts between the two sides.

The Azerbaijan State Academic National Drama Theatre is one of the country’s leading drama institutions and has played an important role in the development of Azerbaijani theatre.

Its history dates to March 10, 1873, when a production based on Mirza Fatali Akhundzadeh’s comedy The Adventures of the Vizier of the Lankaran Khanate was staged in Baku. The performance is regarded as the beginning of professional Azerbaijani national theatre.

The theatre became a state institution in 1919 and received academic status in 1959. It has operated under its current name since 1991.

The theatre’s repertoire spans Azerbaijani classics and works of world drama. It has staged plays by prominent national writers, including Mirza Fatali Akhundzadeh, Huseyn Javid, Jafar Jabbarli, Najaf bey Vazirov, Abdurrahim bey Hagverdiyev and Ilyas Afandiyev. Its productions have also featured such renowned international playwrights as William Shakespeare, Moliere, Nikolai Gogol, Anton Chekhov, Victor Hugo, Alexander Pushkin and Leo Tolstoy.

Over the years, the theatre has presented tragedies, comedies and modern dramatic works, while continuing to give a prominent place to Azerbaijani playwrights and national theatrical traditions.

The Nakhchivan State National Drama Theatre is one of the country’s oldest professional theatre institutions, with a history dating back to 1883. The foundation of the theatre is associated with a performance of Mirza Fatali Akhundov’s comedy “Monsieur Jordan and Dervish Mastali Shah” in Nakhchivan.

The first performances were followed by productions of other works by Akhundov, including “Molla Ibrahimkhalil the Alchemist”, “The Vizier of the Lankaran Khan” and “Haji Gara”. Works by Najaf bey Vazirov, Abdurrahim bey Hagverdiyev and Nariman Narimanov were later added to the repertoire.

In 1922, the theatre was granted the status of a State Drama Theatre. Productions of works by Huseyn Javid and Jafar Jabbarli became part of its repertoire, while works by both local and foreign playwrights were staged over the following decades. The theatre has presented plays by William Shakespeare, Sophocles, Friedrich Schiller, Carlo Goldoni, Nikolai Gogol and Anton Chekhov, among others.

Musical theatre has also been part of its repertoire, including operas and musical comedies by Uzeyir Hajibayli, Zulfugar Hajibeyov, Said Rustamov and Fikrat Amirov.

The theatre building was reconstructed and reopened on February 3, 2012. On April 26, 2022, the theatre was granted national status by a decision of the Cabinet of Ministers.

Today, the Nakhchivan State National Drama Theatre stages works of Azerbaijani and world drama and continues its theatrical activities in Nakhchivan.

Iranian Ambassador to Georgia Seyyed Ali Moujani has been summoned to the Georgian Ministry of Foreign Affairs over a social media post concerning Queen Ketevan.

According to the Georgian Foreign Ministry, Deputy Foreign Minister Aleksandre Khvtisiashvili told the Iranian ambassador during the meeting that his statements published on social media went beyond the scope of diplomatic activities.

The Iranian diplomat was informed that diplomatic representatives accredited in Georgia must operate within the framework of their diplomatic mandate and authority, observe accepted norms of diplomatic relations, and refrain from commenting on the host country’s historical and domestic affairs.

Earlier, Moujani posted an image of Georgian Queen Ketevan projected onto the facade of the Iranian Embassy and said he would soon present the findings of his preliminary research into the historical figure.

Chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee of the Georgian Parliament, Nikoloz Samkharadze, has called on Iran’s ambassador to Georgia to remain within the framework of diplomatic protocol and refrain from making historical references.

Speaking to Georgia’s First Channel, Samkharadze said this was not the first time the Iranian ambassador had made controversial remarks, including statements concerning historical facts.

The digital sector still accounts for a relatively small share of Azerbaijan’s economy, but recent figures show that it is growing significantly faster than the economy as a whole. The results for January-August 2026 are particularly notable in terms of investment: investment in the information and communications sector increased by 49.4% in real terms to ?320 million ($188.24 million). During the same period, the value added generated by the sector increased by 10.7% to ?1.775 billion ($1.04 billion).

These two figures actually illustrate the main question facing Azerbaijan’s digital economy. On the one hand, investment is increasing by 49.4%. On the other hand, the sector’s real value added is growing by 10.7%. In other words, the increase in capital investment is considerably higher than the sector’s current economic growth. This is not a problem in itself. In particular, returns from infrastructure-related investments may materialize over years rather than immediately. The main issue is how much additional value, productivity, new services and exports the ?320 million ($188.24 million) investment can generate in the coming years.

The information and communications sector currently accounts for 2% of Azerbaijan’s total GDP. In January-August, the country’s GDP amounted to ?87.7 billion ($51.59 billion), of which ?61.5 billion ($36.18 billion) came from the non-oil and gas sector. The ICT sector’s share of non-oil and gas GDP reaching 2.9% also shows that the sector is still relatively small. Nevertheless, while the non-oil and gas economy grew by 2.1% in real terms in the first eight months of 2026, growth in the information and communications sector stood at 10.7%.

The ICT sector is growing significantly faster than the economy as a whole. The bigger issue is what lies behind this growth and whether it is translating into higher productivity, stronger investment returns and greater economic value.

The sector providing ?2.748 billion ($1.616 billion) worth of services in the first eight months of 2026 presents an interesting detail in this regard. Of this amount, ?868 million ($510.6 million), or 31.6%, came from mobile communications, while ?455 million ($267.6 million), or 16.6%, came from internet services. Software development and related consulting services accounted for ?435 million ($255.9 million), or 15.8%, of total services. More interestingly, software development and related consulting services increased by 39.4% in real terms over the year. Growth in internet services stood at 21.3%, while information services grew by 13.4%.

These figures can be considered one of the possible signs of structural change in the ICT sector. Mobile communications is still the sector’s largest source of revenue, but the faster growth of software development and related services shows that activities generating higher added value are expanding.

This is precisely where the main opportunity for Azerbaijan emerges. The future of the digital economy will depend on how effectively Azerbaijan can turn better connectivity and wider digital access into higher-value economic activity. A greater economic impact can come from exporting software, cloud services, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, data services and other digital products to regional markets.

The ?320 million ($188.2 million) invested in the ICT sector is significant, particularly when compared with the sector’s overall contribution to the economy. Azerbaijan’s total investment in fixed capital across the economy reached ?12.68 billion ($7.46 billion) in the first eight months of 2026, with information and communications accounting for approximately 2.5% of the total.

On the other hand, the fact that the average monthly nominal wage in the ICT sector reached ?2,137 ($1,257) in January-July 2026 is also noteworthy. This figure is significantly higher than the average monthly wage nationwide. At the same time, the number of employees working under employment contracts in the sector stood at 34,200 as of August 1. The sector currently employs a relatively small workforce, although its wage levels suggest room for further growth in higher-income employment.

As a result, the key indicator for Azerbaijan’s digital economy in the coming years should not be simply how many percent the ICT sector grows. More important questions will be how much productivity the investment generates, how much exports of software and digital services increase, how the number of highly skilled jobs changes, and how much the ICT sector’s 2.9% share of non-oil and gas GDP rises.

Azerbaijan is already investing more resources in digitalization. The main issue now is not for that investment to create greater consumption of digital services within the country, but to translate into the production of higher-value-added products and services and their expansion into foreign markets. If this happens, the sector that currently accounts for 2% of GDP could become a more significant pillar of Azerbaijan’s non-oil economy in the future.

On September 30, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev received Lord Vernon Coaker, Minister of State in the Ministry of Defence of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

The minister expressed gratitude for the reception and stated that he was greatly honored to be in Azerbaijan and meet with the President of Azerbaijan.

Touching upon the importance of the ADEX 2026 and Securex Caspian exhibitions held in Baku, Lord Vernon Coaker noted his country’s interest in participating in the events. He thanked President Ilham Aliyev for the high-level organization of the exhibitions.

Stating that Azerbaijan is a very important and friendly country for the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, the minister emphasized the UK’s interest in continuing this friendship.

Expressing gratitude to Lord Vernon Coaker for attending the exhibitions, the head of state noted that the ADEX exhibition has grown into an important international event over the years.

President Ilham Aliyev emphasized that a new chapter has been opened in the bilateral partnership between Azerbaijan and the United Kingdom – cooperation in the field of the defence industry.

The head of state mentioned that investments have been made in the defense industry in Azerbaijan for more than 20 years, and products are already manufactured for domestic consumption and export. President Ilham Aliyev touched upon potential cooperation with leading companies regarding the delivery of modern weapons and equipment to Azerbaijan, as well as the establishment of joint ventures in Azerbaijan, highlighting the importance of partnership with the United Kingdom in this context.

Azercosmos is seeking to expand the international reach of its satellite services, using platforms such as ADEX 2026 to showcase Azerbaijani space technologies to potential foreign customers and explore new export opportunities.

Speaking to AzerNews on the sidelines of ADEX 2026, Yolchu Hasanov, Advisor to the Chairman of Azercosmos, said the company’s participation in the exhibition is focused on presenting new technologies and products to both domestic and international customers.

‘Our participation in ADEX as Azercosmos is primarily aimed at introducing new technologies and presenting our new products to both local and foreign customers. We are showcasing our solutions in telecommunications as well as the solutions we provide using Earth observation satellites,’ Hasanov said.

Beyond demonstrating existing capabilities, ADEX provides Azercosmos with an opportunity to establish direct contacts with international participants and visitors. According to Hasanov, such meetings form part of the company’s strategy to increase its export potential.

‘The main objective, as I mentioned, is both to present our capabilities to local customers and to hold productive meetings with participants and visitors coming from abroad. As a result of these meetings, our primary goal is to increase our export potential to foreign countries,’ he said.

Azercosmos is seeking to take solutions already applied domestically and adapt them for customers in international markets.

‘We want to implement the solutions that we apply in Azerbaijan in foreign countries as well,’ Hasanov said.

The company has already established a significant international footprint through its telecommunications satellite services.

Hasanov noted that Azercosmos telecommunications satellite services are currently used across 39 African countries.

‘Our telecommunications satellite is currently used in 39 African countries. It is used for television broadcasting as well as data and internet services,’ he said.

Africa therefore represents an established market for Azercosmos, while Central Asia is increasingly emerging as another direction for the company’s international expansion.

Hasanov said Azercosmos has begun applying abroad the experience it has accumulated through Earth observation projects in Azerbaijan, with particular attention currently being paid to Central Asian markets.

‘In the field of Earth observation satellites, we have started applying the same work and solutions that we have implemented in Azerbaijan in foreign countries, particularly in Central Asia,’ he said.

According to Hasanov, Azercosmos is also exploring opportunities across Central Asia and the wider Turkic-speaking world, where the company sees potential to deploy its expertise and technological capabilities.

The approach reflects an effort by Azercosmos to move beyond providing satellite capacity alone and expand the export of satellite-based services and solutions developed through its experience in Azerbaijan.

Its presence at ADEX 2026 consequently serves a dual purpose: presenting Azerbaijan’s existing space capabilities to domestic users while connecting those technologies with potential customers abroad.

With telecommunications services already reaching dozens of African countries and Earth observation solutions increasingly being promoted in Central Asia, Azercosmos is positioning international markets as an important component of its future growth.