Azerbaijan expects Pakistan energy projects to materialise soon

Azerbaijan expects discussions on planned investments in Pakistan’s energy sector to soon translate into concrete projects, outgoing Ambassador Khazar Farhadov said on Tuesday, as the two countries seek to deepen economic ties.

The development comes during a meeting between Khazar Farhadov and Federal Minister for Commerce Jam Kamal Khan at the Ministry of Commerce, where both sides reviewed the progress achieved in Pakistan–Azerbaijan relations during the envoy’s tenure, read a statement.

Kamal commended Farhadov for his outstanding contribution to strengthening the strategic partnership between the two countries.

The minister noted that the strong rapport between the leadership of both countries had translated political goodwill into tangible economic outcomes.

He said Pakistan remains committed to deepening cooperation in trade, investment, energy, tourism, transport, infrastructure and industrial development.

During the meeting, both sides recalled several landmark achievements, including the successful convening of the 8th Session of the Pakistan–Azerbaijan Joint Commission and the signing of the Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA). They continued progress towards its implementation to facilitate bilateral trade.

They noted that these milestones have strengthened the institutional framework for expanding economic cooperation, promoting joint ventures and enhancing commercial linkages between the two countries.

The minister also highlighted the signing of 15 agreements and Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) during recent high-level engagements between Pakistan and Azerbaijan covering trade and commerce, investment, information technology, tourism, science and technology, civil aviation, media cooperation, SMEs, cultural exchanges and consular affairs.

He noted that these agreements have laid the foundation for broader strategic collaboration and long-term economic partnership.

Both sides further appreciated the progress made towards establishing Azerbaijan Trade Houses in Pakistan, launching the Pakistan–Azerbaijan Joint Chamber of Commerce and Industry, organising regular business-to-business forums and strengthening institutional engagement between the private sectors of both countries.

They agreed that these initiatives would help translate the exceptional political relationship into meaningful economic gains.

Ambassador Khazar Farhadov highlighted the substantial progress made during his tenure, including increased leadership exchanges, expanded direct air connectivity, enhanced institutional cooperation and growing commercial interaction between the two countries.

He observed that the strong political relationship had created new opportunities for businesses and investors and encouraged both sides to maintain the current momentum.

The envoy encouraged Pakistan to facilitate regular visits by Azerbaijani investors, chambers of commerce and business delegations to Special Economic Zones, industrial clusters and export-oriented industries to enable them to witness firsthand the country’s manufacturing capabilities and investment potential.

He emphasised that direct engagement with Pakistan’s business ecosystem would strengthen investor confidence and encourage long-term partnerships.

He further noted that Pakistan offers significant investment opportunities across diverse sectors, including energy, infrastructure, manufacturing, tourism and logistics, and has the potential to attract investors not only from Azerbaijan but also from Türkiye, Kazakhstan, Japan and other friendly countries.

Referring to Azerbaijan’s planned investments in Pakistan, he expressed confidence that discussions on priority projects, particularly in the energy sector, would soon materialise into practical outcomes.

He emphasised that while governments create enabling policies and facilitate cooperation, sustainable investment is ultimately driven by the private sector through commercially viable opportunities.

The two sides also discussed the importance of enhanced regional connectivity. They expressed optimism that improved regional conditions would facilitate land transport and trade corridors linking Pakistan with Azerbaijan through the wider region, creating new opportunities for commerce, logistics and regional economic integration.

Jam Kamal reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to providing a transparent and investor-friendly business environment and assured that the Ministry of Commerce would continue extending full support to initiatives aimed at enhancing bilateral trade, investment and private-sector collaboration.