Category: Azer News

Kazakhstan’s GDP grew by 4.1% in January-July 2026, according to preliminary data from the country’s Bureau of National Statistics, cited by the government press service, AzerNEWS reports.

The main driver of growth was the non-resource sector, which expanded by 5.4% during the first seven months of the year. This suggests that Kazakhstan’s economy is becoming less dependent on oil and other raw materials.

The Ministry of National Economy said economic growth has remained stable despite lower oil production and continued volatility in global markets.

Oil output fell by 8.9% year-on-year in January-July, reaching 53.2 million tonnes.

For comparison, Kazakhstan produced around 99.6 million tonnes of oil in 2025. The government expects total production to reach approximately 98 million tonnes in 2026.

An interesting point: Oil remains one of Kazakhstan’s most important sources of export revenue, but the government has been actively promoting manufacturing, transport, construction, agriculture and other non-resource industries to diversify the economy.

Kazakhstan is also positioning itself as a key transit hub between China, Central Asia and Europe. Growing investment in railways, roads and the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route could give the country an additional source of long-term economic growth beyond its traditional reliance on energy exports.

Despite the decline in oil output, the latest figures indicate that Kazakhstan’s broader economy continues to expand – a potentially important sign for its diversification strategy.

A joint tactical military exercise between Kyrgyzstan and Russia has begun in the city of Balykchy, located on the shores of Lake Issyk-Kul in Kyrgyzstan, AzerNEWS reports.

The opening ceremony was attended by the exercise commander, Colonel Kojoshev, head of the Russian Armed Forces’ military contingent, Deputy Commander of the 201st Military Base, Lieutenant Colonel Lakeyev, and Head of the Mayor’s Office of Balykchy, Kukeyeva.

Up to 500 military personnel, around 100 units of weapons and military equipment, combat FPV drones, and army aviation have been deployed for the exercise.

The joint tactical exercise is being held within the framework of bilateral cooperation between the defense ministries of the two countries and will run from August 11 to 17.

Armenia could potentially begin importing natural gas from Azerbaijan in the future, according to Sarkis Khandanyan, a lawmaker from Armenia’s ruling Civil Contract party, AzerNEWS reports.

Speaking at a briefing, Khandanyan said that the construction of a gas pipeline could be considered as one of the options for diversifying Armenia’s gas supplies within the framework of the TRIPP project.

The proposed infrastructure is expected to pass through Armenian territory and could potentially provide the country with access to an additional source of natural gas.

Khandanyan stressed that the idea remains a theoretical possibility for now. However, he said he did not expect the technical implementation of such a project to present any major difficulties.

The Armenian lawmaker also addressed the issue of Russian gas prices, saying that if the question of changing the price arises, Yerevan intends to discuss it with Moscow within the framework of their partnership.

At the same time, Khandanyan emphasized the importance of reducing Armenia’s dependence on a single gas supplier.

He also did not rule out the possibility of Armenia directly importing natural gas from Azerbaijan, potentially opening a new dimension in energy relations between the two neighboring countries.

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Galuzin said that the issue of potentially restricting Armenia’s powers within the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) could be discussed at the organization’s summit in Moscow on November 11, AzerNEWS reports, citing TASS.

According to Galuzin, any decision on restrictive measures against CSTO member states is made by the organization’s Collective Security Council. He noted that the council’s authority to take such decisions is established in the CSTO’s charter.

Galuzin emphasized that the CSTO charter is an international treaty and therefore creates obligations for all participating states. Among other requirements, member countries are expected to provide timely financial contributions to support the organization’s activities.

Earlier, the permanent representative of the Russian Federation to the CSTO, Viktor Vasiliev, said that in order to deprive Armenia of the right to vote in the organization’s bodies, it is necessary to reach a consensus among the organization’s participants.

On June 10, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov stated that Armenia had accumulated debts to the organization for more than two years.

The remarks come amid continued tensions between Armenia and the CSTO, as Yerevan has significantly reduced its participation in the organization’s activities.

On August 11, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva inspected the ‘Master Plan for the Development of Nakhchivan City until 2044.’

Anar Guliyev, Chairman of the State Committee on Urban Planning and Architecture, briefed the head of state and the First Lady on the new Master Plan, the targets set for the city’s future development, and the projects envisaged under the plan.

It was reported that the Master Plan was prepared by the ‘Azermemarlayiha’ Senior State Design Institute and the international consulting firm Chapman Taylor, commissioned by the State Committee on Urban Planning and Architecture, in accordance with the ‘State Program for the Socio-Economic Development of the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic for 2023-2027.’

Prepared for the first time during the period of independence for Nakhchivan city, one of Azerbaijan’s oldest settlements, the new Master Plan defines a unified strategic vision for the city’s long-term spatial development. The concept was formulated around the renewal of the city center, expansion of recreational zones, promotion of sustainable mobility, strengthening of residential and social infrastructure, and more effective realization of the city’s tourism potential.

One of the main directions of the city’s development is the transformation of its central part. For this purpose, a detailed plan has been prepared for the central district covering an area of 74 hectares, along with a new architectural concept for a 12.5-hectare area within this district, while preserving the existing planning structure. The project envisages transforming the city center into a more vibrant, compact, and accessible space. According to the concept, obsolete non-historical buildings are proposed to be systematically renovated or replaced with modern multi-story residential and multifunctional buildings. The project also envisages establishing a new administrative complex in the area and transforming the central square into a human-centered public space through the addition of new landscaping and small architectural elements. As a result of these approaches, a modern city center will be created where residential, work, service, recreational, and public functions complement one another.

With the aim of making ecological infrastructure an integral part of the city, implementation of the Master Plan will also expand the existing green space network, integrate the area along the Nakhchivanchay River into urban life, and create new parks, recreational areas, and public spaces. As a result, green space per capita is planned to increase from 15 square meters to 27 square meters.

The approach to urban mobility is also based on new principles. Supporting the implementation of sustainable and environmentally friendly transport solutions, the concept envisages a total street and road network of 188.4 kilometers and 122 kilometers of bicycle infrastructure. This means that more than 65 percent of the total street and road network will be adapted for cycling.

The Master Plan identifies Nakhchivan’s rich historical and cultural heritage and favorable geographic location as key advantages shaping the city’s tourism potential. Alongside preserving historical heritage, expanding the service sector and improving the quality of the urban environment will enhance the competitiveness of the tourism sector.

The future development of Nakhchivan is planned with the city’s growth potential in mind. According to the Master Plan, the residential area is projected to increase from 1,831 hectares to 2,630 hectares over the specified period. Consequently, the city’s existing territory is expected to expand by approximately 44 percent, while its population is projected to grow from 97,200 to 130,000 residents.

Taking population density into account, the housing stock is projected to reach 3.9 million square meters. This will provide an average of 30 square meters of living space per capita, laying the groundwork for the comprehensive development of new residential neighborhoods equipped with social, transport, and engineering infrastructure.

In parallel with urban growth, social infrastructure will also be expanded. To meet education and healthcare needs, the capacity of general education institutions is projected to reach 23,400, preschool institutions 7,800, and hospital beds 650. Driven by growth in services, transport and logistics, industry, construction, tourism, and agriculture, the level of employment is expected to increase by nearly 40 percent, reaching 78,000 people.

Thus, as a strategically vital part of the Middle Corridor, Nakhchivan city will develop into a dynamic hub with even greater potential by 2044. By harmonizing the city’s historical and cultural heritage with modern urban planning principles, the new Master Plan establishes a strategic framework for its development as a sustainable, inclusive, and human-centered regional center.

Baku will host an international conference in September, bringing together government officials, transport operators, investors and experts to discuss the future of Eurasia’s transport corridors amid shifting global supply chains and the emergence of alternative trade routes between Asia and Europe.

According to AzerNEWS, the 5th International Conference and Exhibition, Black and Caspian Freight Forum 2026: Corridors, Infrastructure, Investments, will be held on September 7-9 at the Four Seasons Hotel Baku.

The forum will focus on the transformation of the regional and international transport system, with particular attention to the development of the Middle Corridor, infrastructure investment, cargo flows across the Caspian Sea and the growing connectivity between Central Asia, the South Caucasus, Trkiye and European markets.

The event is being organised by RDL Group, with the support of CASPIA Analytical Center and TransConsulting.

According to the organisers, the restructuring of global supply chains and changing trade routes are creating growing demand for alternative transport connections linking Asia and Europe.

A central theme of the forum will be the development of the Middle Corridor, also known as the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route, which connects China and Central Asia with the South Caucasus, Trkiye and Europe.

Participants will examine the corridor’s prospects as well as the practical challenges affecting its efficiency, including infrastructure capacity, port and railway networks, coordination between different modes of transport, investment needs and the digitalisation of logistics.

The forum will also examine the changing dynamics of cargo flows across the Caspian Sea and the development of transport infrastructure in the wider Black Sea-Caspian region.

Discussions are expected to address cooperation between transport operators and efforts to connect the transport networks of Central Asia and the South Caucasus more closely with the Black Sea and European markets.

Particular attention will be given to emerging regional infrastructure initiatives, including TRIPP (Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity), and their potential implications for regional connectivity.

The initiative is expected to be discussed alongside broader questions surrounding the development of international transport corridors and the changing geography of trade across Eurasia.

Investment in ports, railway networks and other transport infrastructure will also feature prominently on the forum’s agenda. Other topics will include multimodal transportation, logistics digitalisation, maritime transport across the Caspian and Black seas, and the long-term prospects of international freight corridors.

The three-day event is expected to bring together representatives of government institutions, international financial organisations, ports and railway companies, transport and logistics firms, investors, businesses and expert organisations.

The organisers have also invited members of the media to cover the Black and Caspian Freight Forum 2026.

Media representatives seeking accreditation are required to provide the full name of the journalist or media representative who will cover the event.

Azerbaijan’s Greco-Roman wrestling team has won five medals and finished second in the team standings at the “Ion Cornianu and Ladislau Simon” tournament in Bucharest, Romania, AzerNEWS reports.

The country was represented by members of its Greco-Roman wrestling national team at the traditional memorial tournament.

Competing under head coach Nureddin Rajabov and coach Rovshan Bayramov, the Azerbaijani wrestlers claimed four gold medals and one bronze.

Farid Sadikhli (55 kg), Farid Khalilov (67 kg), Gurban Gurbanov (87 kg) and Mezaim Mardanov (130 kg) won gold medals, while Ilkin Gurbanov (63 kg) secured bronze.

Wrestling is one of the most popular sports in Azerbaijan and is managed by the National Wrestling Federation, founded in 1993.

Azerbaijan has achieved strong results in wrestling at major international competitions. At the Rio Olympic Games, the country became one of only two nations to increase its medal tally at five consecutive Olympic Games.

In 2020, Azerbaijan’s freestyle wrestlers won two medals at the Individual World Cup in Serbia, with one silver and one bronze, helping the country finish third in the overall medal standings behind Russia and Turkiye.

Osman Nurmagomedov won the 92 kg title at the 2022 World Championships in Belgrade, defeating a Russian wrestler in the final.

At the 2024 Paris Olympics, Azerbaijani wrestlers won three bronze medals. Hasrat Jafarov finished third in the 67 kg Greco-Roman category, while Giorgi Meshvildishvili and Magomedkhan Magomedov won bronze in the 125 kg and 97 kg freestyle events, respectively.

Azerbaijan has also hosted major wrestling competitions, including European and World Championships and youth events. Baku, Ganja and other cities have welcomed wrestlers from different countries, with modern sports facilities and venues suitable for international competitions.

The Scientific Council of the Institute of Information Technology under the Ministry of Science and Education has reviewed reports on the comprehensive activities of the institute’s structural divisions for the first half of 2026, AzerNEWS reports.

The reports were presented and discussed at meetings of the Scientific Council.

Speaking about the six-month reports, Vice President of the Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences (ANAS), Director General and Academician Rasim Aliguliyev noted that the institute’s activities are organized in line with the priority areas defined in strategies, concepts and programs within the framework of state policy.

The scientist stressed the importance of objectively and transparently assessing and regularly reviewing the implementation of tasks set out in the institute’s action plan, as well as the scientific results achieved, in order to improve the efficiency of research activities.

The institute’s Director General said that achieving high-level scientific results, generating new knowledge, actively contributing to the implementation of scientific objectives set by the state, transferring scientific and technological innovations to society, and improving the efficiency of scientific activities are among the institute’s priorities. He stressed the importance of every staff member carrying out their responsibilities with due diligence to achieve these goals.

The six-month reports covered work carried out in the study of the scientific and theoretical foundations of modern information technologies, digital transformation processes, and the scientific challenges related to the development of an information society.

The meetings also featured extensive discussions on the research, scientific innovation and academic activities of the structural divisions during the first half of 2026. These included the implementation of tasks arising from strategic documents adopted in the field of digital policy, projects aimed at integrating science and education, the training of highly qualified specialists and other areas of activity.

Information was also provided on public awareness efforts aimed at promoting technological knowledge amid the rapid development of digital transformation processes. The reports included information on articles published in prestigious scientific journals, conference proceedings and international scientific cooperation. The institute’s scientometric indicators, as well as those of individual structural divisions, were presented, along with recommendations for making activities in this area more effective.

Academician Rasim Aliguliyev highly valued the scientific results and achievements recorded during the reporting period and called on staff to further improve the quality of their research and actively contribute to fulfilling the tasks facing the institute in the coming period.

At the end of the meetings, the reports of the institute’s structural divisions were extensively discussed by members of the Scientific Council, which subsequently adopted relevant decisions. The structural divisions were instructed to ensure the implementation of tasks arising from state policy, expand international scientific cooperation and increase the number of scientific findings published in leading international journals.

The Shah Deniz consortium is pleased to announce the award of a major automation contract for the Shah Deniz Compression (SDC) project to Emerson, AzerNEWS reports, citing bp.

The contract covers the delivery of integrated control and safety systems for remote operations of the SDC platform, including process control, safety shutdown, fire and gas detection, and power management systems.

Together, these systems will enable real-time visibility and remote control of critical platform operations, helping to enhance safety, reliability and operational efficiency while reducing operating costs and supporting long-term performance.

Ilgar Mammadov, bp project general manager, said: ‘The award of this contract marks an important milestone in the delivery of the SDC project. The automation and control systems will be a critical component of the unmanned SDC platform, supporting its safe and effective operation throughout its lifecycle.

‘This milestone comes as the overall project continues to make strong progress, with around 30% completion achieved to date and around 2,700 people currently mobilized. Engineering and fabrication activities are advancing as planned across multiple work fronts, drawing strongly on Azerbaijan’s resources, expertise and industrial capabilities as we continue to move the project forward.’

The SDC project will play a key role in maximizing recovery from the Shah Deniz field, enabling access to additional gas resources and helping sustain production over the long term.

A study by Netherlands-based Triodos Bank estimates that anomalous weather conditions and prolonged drought observed across Europe this summer could cost the European Union (EU) economy around pound 180 billion and wipe out previously forecast economic growth, AzerNEWS reports.

Triodos Bank published a study titled “Hot Summer Economics”, examining the economic impact of extreme heat across Europe.

The study noted that record temperatures and prolonged drought are negatively affecting not only human health and ecosystems, but also agriculture, the energy sector, transportation and labour productivity.

According to the bank’s latest analysis, extreme weather conditions observed during the summer could reduce the EU’s gross domestic product (GDP) by around 1% in 2026. This is equivalent to approximately pound 180 billion and would effectively eliminate the economic growth previously forecast for the year.

The research found that the largest economic impact of extreme heat stems from declining labour productivity. Productivity begins to fall significantly when temperatures rise above approximately 25-30°C.

The impact is particularly severe for workers engaged in physically demanding jobs, those working outdoors and employees in workplaces without air conditioning. Extreme heat can also affect office workers’ performance and sleep quality and contribute to increased absenteeism during hot days.

The study estimates that reduced labour productivity caused by high temperatures in the summer of 2026 could result in an average loss of around 0.6% of EU GDP.

Agricultural production across the EU is also expected to decline by between 3% and 7% due to extreme heat and drought. Rising food prices, restrictions on energy generation, higher electricity prices, and disruptions to roads, railways and inland waterways are expected to further increase the economic damage.

France is projected to be the country most severely affected by extreme heat. Repeated heatwaves are expected to reduce the country’s GDP by around 1.4%, contributing to an estimated 0.6% contraction of the French economy over the year.

Significant economic losses are also expected in Italy, Spain and Belgium.

Meanwhile, the European Commission had previously forecast that the EU economy would grow by 1.1% this year.