"AIC" makes first investment in startup

The State Oil Company of Azerbaijan (SOCAR) is examining opportunities in geothermal energy in partnership with U.S. companies as part of Azerbaijan's efforts to advance renewable energy. SOCAR President Rovshan Najaf and John Wallace, CEO of DeGolyer and MacNaughton, met in Baku to discuss initiatives including geothermal energy projects and carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS) technologies, SOCAR announced on Tuesday.

On Tuesday, the Turan E-Commerce and Export Forum in Baku unveiled the new "Made in Turan" trademark, marking a bold step toward uniting the economic potential of Turkic states under a single label. This initiative aims to stimulate trade and strengthen economic ties among the member states of the Organization of Turkic States (OTS).

According to the State Customs Committee, food import expenditures in Azerbaijan rose by 10.2% in the first ten months of 2024 compared to the same period last year, reaching a record $1.97 billion. This increase, driven by growing demand for vegetables, fruits, tea, rice, and animal products, highlights the country's rising dependence on imported food despite government efforts to boost domestic agricultural production.

Azerbaijan's potato sector, a cornerstone of the nation's food supply and its second most significant agricultural product, is in sharp decline. Production dropped by 7.6% year-on-year from January to October 2024, reflecting a long-term downward trend, according to the State Statistics Committee.