Azerbaijan's Rice Imports Surge

Azerbaijan and Pakistan have signaled a growing commitment to deepen energy cooperation, with a focus on renewable energy initiatives, as Azerbaijani Energy Minister Parviz Shahbazov hosted a delegation led by Pakistani Federal Minister Abdul Alim Khan in Baku on January 30.

Oil from Kazakhstan's largest field, Kashagan, has begun flowing into the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan (BTC) pipeline. According to information from SOCAR, the first batch of this oil was received at the Sangachal terminal on January 27 and will be transported via BTC to the port of Ceyhan.

Azerbaijan is accelerating the implementation of its socio-economic development strategy, focusing on digital transformation and strengthening cybersecurity. The government is allocating resources to human capital development, prioritizing the training of cybersecurity professionals, said Farid Osmanov, Chairman of the Board of the Innovation and Digital Development Agency, on January 30  during the fourth “Graduation Day” of the Azerbaijan Cybersecurity Center (AKM).

Azerbaijan’s economy is expected to grow 2.7% in 2025 before slowing to 2.4% in 2026, according to the World Bank’s latest outlook, as the country balances stability with external risks. While growth remains steady, it marks a slowdown from the 4% rebound forecast for 2024.