Category: Azer News

ADY (Azerbaijan Railways), a company within the AZCON Holding group, handled 392 block trains in 2025, Azernews reports, citing the company.

This represents a 37% increase compared to 2024, when ADY received 287 block trains.

In addition, total container transportation reached 135,300 TEU in 2025, marking an increase of nearly 19% compared to 114,000 TEU transported in 2024.

ADY operates as part of AZCON Holding and plays a key role in Azerbaijan’s transport and logistics sector. The company is a major transit operator on the East-West and North-South international transport corridors, connecting Asia and Europe through the South Caucasus.

In recent years, ADY has focused on expanding container transportation, improving rail infrastructure, and enhancing transit capacity to strengthen Azerbaijan’s position as a regional logistics hub.

Growth in block train operations and container volumes reflects rising demand for multimodal freight transport through the country and ongoing investments in rail modernization and digital logistics solutions.

Haluk Bayraktar, Chairman of Piaggio Aerospace and CEO of Baykar, has shared details about the company’s acquisition by Baykar and its strategic plans for the future.

Highlighting Piaggio Aerospace’s 140-year legacy in the Italian aviation industry, Bayraktar noted,

“This is an extremely important heritage for Baykar. Combining our technologies with Piaggio provides a unique advantage and potential by bringing together the strengths of Turkiye and Italy.”

He explained that Piaggio’s operations currently include production of the P180 aircraft as well as engine component manufacturing and maintenance services.

“With all of these capabilities and expertise, you have a truly unique aircraft – the fastest turboprop in the world with an unparalleled design. When Piaggio’s facilities, capabilities, heritage, and brand are combined with Baykar’s UAV innovation, we see a bright future ahead. The P180 is very special. While production capacity has been maintained at low levels for several years, our vision and broader strategy at Baykar is to revitalize these operations and increase production capacity,” he said.

Currently, Baykar produces about 4-5 aircraft per year, but Bayraktar confirmed plans to increase production to 25-30 P180 Avanti aircraft annually next year. He added,

“The existing facilities and supply chain support allow us to reach that capacity. We are committed to new investments, updates, and making the aircraft attractive in the market.”

Bayraktar emphasized the reliability of the P180 fleet, noting that over 250 units have been produced, with 220 still in active service since 1986, collectively logging over 1.1 million flight hours.

Bayraktar stressed the company’s focus on innovation and modernization:

“We are investing heavily in system updates and modernizing avionics. The entire industry is moving to Garmin avionics. We have started work and will upgrade all systems accordingly. Interiors will also be redesigned, modernizing Italian design and aesthetics. New cabin designs will emerge. Our aircraft already have digital pressurization and new environmental control systems, along with new satellite communication technologies. We are also working to extend maintenance intervals and inspection cycles.”

He said these upgrades would culminate in the ‘Avanti Next’ model.

Bayraktar also highlighted Piaggio’s service network and maintenance investments:

“Over 220 aircraft are actively flying worldwide – about 100 in the U.S., 100 in Europe, and the rest across the globe. Maintenance, repair, and overhaul are critical. With the new management at Baykar, we are truly committed to our customers’ needs and expectations. We are making major investments not only in Europe but also in the U.S., which is the largest market. The U.S. civil aviation sector is highly advanced and makes extensive use of these aircraft, so we are investing in our U.S. operations.”

He added that Baykar recently signed an authorized service center agreement with Interjet Continental Aerospace and plans to establish more repair centers and a logistics hub in the U.S. within a year to ensure faster service and greater spare parts availability.

Bayraktar outlined plans to leverage Piaggio’s civil aviation expertise and Baykar’s agile engineering to launch new initiatives, including UAV production at Piaggio facilities. In partnership with Leonardo, Baykar plans to localize UAV manufacturing in Italy to meet European needs.

He also noted intentions to expand engine maintenance capabilities:

“We aim to bring new engine alternatives and expand maintenance and overhaul capabilities. We plan to invest in machinery and equipment this year to increase production and maintenance capacity.”

Concluding, Bayraktar emphasized the company’s commitment to the U.S. market:

“The U.S. is the leading market in civil aviation, and this applies to the P180 as well. Our customers in the U.S. are genuinely impressed with the aircraft’s design, performance, speed, and cabin comfort. Listening to them motivates us to make our U.S. operations far better than they are today.”

U.S. President Donald Trump has signed an executive order imposing a 25% tariff on certain advanced semiconductor chips, the White House announced, Azernews reports.

According to the statement, the order addresses national security concerns related to the import of semiconductors, semiconductor manufacturing equipment, and related products.

The tariff will specifically apply to certain high-end chips, including Nvidia H200 and AMD MI325X. However, the measure will not affect imports intended to support the U.S. technology supply chain or to strengthen domestic production of semiconductor derivatives, the White House clarified.

The executive order also notes that Trump may expand tariffs on semiconductors and related products in the near future. In addition, a previously announced tariff compensation program could be implemented to encourage domestic production of these critical components.

The US Embassy in Baku has issued a security alert urging American citizens to leave Iran immediately amid heightened regional tensions, Azernews reports.

In a statement posted on the embassy’s official Facebook page, US citizens were advised to consider departing Iran by land through Trkiye or Armenia, provided it is safe to do so. The embassy also warned that entry into Azerbaijan from Iran may be restricted for US citizens during periods of increased tension.

‘U.S. citizens with an urgent need to depart Iran via Azerbaijan should be aware that entry into Azerbaijan from Iran has been restricted for U.S. citizens during periods of heightened tension, such as the June 2025 conflict between Iran and Israel,’ the statement said.

The embassy called on US citizens to consider alternative routes for leaving Iran and to closely monitor official updates as the situation develops.

Donald Trump has said he has been assured the killing of protesters in Iran has been halted, adding that he would ‘watch it and see’ about threatened US military action, as tensions appeared to ease on Wednesday night.

Trump had repeatedly talked in recent days about coming to the aid of the Iranian people over the crackdown on protests that Iran Human Rights, a group based in Norway, said had now killed at least 3,428 people and led to the arrest of more than 10,000.

But in a surprise announcement at the White House, Trump said he had received assurances from ‘very important sources on the other side’ that Tehran had now stopped the use of lethal force on protesters, and that executions would not go ahead.

‘They’ve said the killing has stopped and the executions won’t take place – there were supposed to be a lot of executions today, and that the executions won’t take place – and we’re going to find out,’ Trump said.

He offered no details and noted that the United States had yet to verify the claims.

The Azerbaijan Basketball Cup has completed its Round of 16 fixtures, Azernews reports.

On the opening day of the round, Neftchi recorded a convincing 86-54 victory over Lankaran, while Guba edged past Nakhchivan in a high-scoring encounter, winning 105-98.

On the second day of action, Shaki delighted home fans with a 92-75 win against Serhedchi.

Meanwhile, Sumgait produced one of the standout results of the round, claiming an impressive 116-94 away victory over NTD to pull off a major upset.

The quarterfinal matches – Sabah vs Guba, Absheron Lions vs Shaki, Ganja vs Neftchi, and Ordu vs Sumgait will take place at the Baku Sports Palace between February 18 and 22.

Founded in 1992, the Azerbaijan Basketball Federation (ABF) has played a major role in the development of basketball in the country.

In 1994, ABF became a full member of the International Basketball Federation (FIBA), making it possible for national basketball teams to join international competitions.

In 1995, Azerbaijan won an international basketball match held in Baku.

In 2006, the men’s basketball team ranked first at the FIBA European Development Cup in Albania.

Four years later, the national team became first at the Novruz-2010 International basketball tournament.

Azerbaijani basketball players also grabbed two medals at the 5th Islamic Solidarity Games.

The team won one gold and one silver medals for Azerbaijan.

Basketball in Azerbaijan will continue to grow and improve, attracting more sports fans.

On January 12, 2026, Azerbaijan’s Deputy Minister of Digital Development and Transport, the Honorable Sameddin F. Asadov, welcomed in Baku a U. S. Delegation led by Carl B. Kress, Regional Director of the U.S. Trade and Development Agency (USTDA).

This emblematic bilateral meeting was held at the Ministry of Digital Development and Transport, where mutual trade, industrial and regional economic projects were discussed.

The Deputy Minister of Digital Development and Transport expressed his satisfaction with the increasingly productive strategic cooperation between Azerbaijan and the United States of America. The two authorities shared views on forthcoming prospects for cooperation between the Ministry of Digital Development and Transport and the U.S. Trade and Development Agency in the areas of railway infrastructure, telecommunications, space technologies, and the construction of data centers for artificial intelligence applications.

Trained at the Maastricht School of Management (MSM) and the Fuqua School of Business at Duke University (USA). Sameddin Asadov – through this meeting – is emphasizing the main pillars of cooperation between Washington and Baku that took shape during the historic meeting of President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev with President Donald Trump at the White House on August 8th, 2025.

In Azerbaijan, the delegation led by Carl Kress held meetings with a variety of national top officials, including Azerbaijan’s Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister Elnur Mammadov. In the meeting, the current state of bilateral cooperation between the countries in areas such as energy, trade, regional connections, including the TRIPP route, economic investment, as well as the promotion of information to U.S. private sector representatives with relevant infrastructure and logistics interests in Azerbaijan, and the prospects for the development of cooperation were discussed.

These imperative bilateral meetings and engagements are held in separate institutions with the common objective, and that is to strengthen the framework of the Strategic Partnership Charter, taking shape at the Washington Peace Summit on August 8th last year.

Furthermore, the role of Azerbaijan in the energy security of the region was elevated as the nation is focused on developing renewable energy resources, the diversification of trade routes in the Middle Corridor, as well as the existing favorable business and investment environment in Azerbaijan, including the opportunities for establishing new relations.

The Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity (TRIPP) was the centrepiece of these discussions, and Baku’s diplomacy and economic policies are pivotal towards a more prosperous and peaceful South Caucasus and Eastern Europe.

According to national media outlets: Azerbaijani government agencies have a growing potential to establish new partnerships with US private-sector entities to explore corporate investment in the development of TRIPP infrastructure, as well as participation in renewable energy ventures.

“With its strategic location, geographically situated at the heart of Eurasia, Azerbaijan is a nation with immense economic potential in the South Caucasus with unparalleled government performance over regional circular economy initiatives, energy economics and security strategy and dynamics. These geopolitical factors strengthen Washington’s engagement with Baku as President Trump is projecting and forging a new balance of power in the Western Hemisphere, the Middle East and South Asia.

The United Kingdom’s Minister for Trade, Chris Bryant, made statements on economic, trade, and defense cooperation between Turkiye and the UK during the 8th Term Meeting of the Turkiye-UK Economic and Trade Joint Committee (JETCO).

Bryant emphasized that both Turkiye and the UK are important NATO members, saying,

“This is a really significant part of our relationship in a period dominated by international uncertainty.”

He noted that trade is another key focus of bilateral relations and welcomed the fact that bilateral trade doubled over the past few years, reaching £28 billion.

“This level of trade brings gains and employment opportunities to both countries,” Bryant said, adding that Turkiye is among the priority countries for the UK in finalizing a free trade agreement (FTA) as soon as possible.

He explained the rapid progress:

“The process began only last summer, and we had expected each stage to take a long time. Yet in six months, we managed to hold three rounds of negotiations – almost unheard of in free trade agreement processes. I hope we can maintain this momentum for the rest of the year. I am always cautious about setting a deadline, but ultimately, the most important thing is not just agreeing on the content of the agreement but implementing it so that businesses in Turkiye and the UK can benefit. We have handled the easier parts; now we will negotiate the more difficult aspects in the coming months. The next negotiation round is scheduled for February, and I hope there will be additional rounds this year.”

Bryant added that the FTA could double the current £28 billion trade volume by removing customs and other barriers not only in goods and services but also in e-commerce.

Reflecting on UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s visit to Turkiye in October last year, Bryant said it was the first visit by a British prime minister in eight years. During that visit, an agreement was signed on the supply of Eurofighter Typhoon jets to Turkiye.

“I believe this is just the beginning of our defense agreement and cooperation, whether through production or NATO. In both respects, we are very strong allies,” Bryant said.

Addressing growing geopolitical uncertainty following former US President Donald Trump’s comments on Greenland, Bryant said:

“The situation in Greenland is a matter for the Greenlandic people and the people of Denmark. Only they should determine the country’s future. The UK and Turkiye are strong NATO members, and Denmark is as well. Within NATO, there are certain conditions that both the UK and Turkiye strongly support.”

He also noted that the UK is seeking to establish a free trade agreement with Greenland, which would involve removing customs duties and other barriers.

“Sometimes geopolitical issues, whether oil, gas, or other matters, intersect with trade. Sometimes you have to keep them completely separate. In this regard, we are very fortunate to have such strong allies in Turkiye, both commercially and militarily. I believe this gives us the opportunity to trust each other and move forward very strongly,” he said.

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan also confirmed that during Prime Minister Starmer’s October 27 visit to Ankara, intergovernmental agreements for the supply of Eurofighter Typhoon fighter jets were signed during official delegation meetings.

Contracts with business entities operating in the liberated territories of Azerbaijan are being digitalized, Azernews reports.

This issue is reflected in the amendment made by President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev to the decree “On strengthening the necessary state support for expanding access to financial resources for entrepreneurs operating in the liberated territories” and “On approval of rules for obtaining loans and providing guarantees on behalf of Azerbaijan.”

According to the rules on providing state guarantees for loans to business entities operating in the liberated territories and subsidizing loan interest rates, after the conclusion of a loan agreement between the authorized organization and the business entity, this agreement (including the payment schedule), the mortgage agreement, and a document confirming the payment of a one-time guarantee fee will be submitted by the authorized organization to the Azerbaijan Business Development Fund Open Joint Stock Company in the form of an electronic document through the information system within five business days.

According to the amendment, in case of failure to submit documents electronically, copies of those documents will be sent through the information system.

Azerbaijan and Vietnam are exploring potential collaboration in the production of electric vehicles.

As reported by Azernews, Azerbaijan’s Minister of Economy, Mikayil Jabbarov, shared details of the discussions on his X account.

‘It was a pleasure to meet with the delegation led by Ms. Le Thi Thu Thuy, Chairwoman of Vietnam’s VinFast company. We exchanged views on diversifying economic ties with Vietnam, collaborating with the business community, and advancing sustainable development priorities, as well as highlighting Azerbaijan’s favorable business environment. We also discussed opportunities for joint activity in the electric vehicle manufacturing sector,’ the minister wrote.

Azerbaijan Culture Minister Adil Karimli has heard citizens’ appeals in Baku, Azernews reports.

Reception held at the Culture Ministry was attended not only by residents of the capital but also by citizens from various regions, including a group of cultural figures.

The issues raised by participants mainly related to the evaluation of creative work, proposals concerning the cultural sector, employment opportunities, and other related matters.

After all appeals were heard, the issues raised were officially recorded in accordance with established procedures.

Relevant instructions were issued to heads of the ministry’s structural divisions to ensure that each appeal is carefully examined and resolved in compliance with existing legislation.

During the meeting, special attention was given to issues raised by families of martyrs and war veterans.

Each of these appeals was registered and placed under supervision to ensure timely and objective consideration.