Sumgait Chemical Industrial Park Extends Exports to Over 60 Nations

The number of passengers traveling by air from Azerbaijan has seen a significant increase in 2024, rising by 26.7% from January to September compared to the same period last year. According to the State Agency for Tourism, a total of 2,548,897 people used air transport services to travel to 40 countries during this period.

Azerbaijan’s prolonged border closures, approaching five years, have taken a profound toll on the labor market, particularly in border regions, where cross-border trade and services were once critical economic drivers. Official data highlights the stark disparity between the growing labor force and the lack of new job creation in these areas, underscoring the social and economic challenges faced by residents.

Azerbaijan’s food imports have surged to unprecedented levels, with a significant rise recorded in the first nine months of 2024, according to data from the State Customs Committee. Food imports for January-September reached USD 1.755 billion, marking an 11.4% increase over the same period last year. This represents a USD 179.7 million increase compared to 2023, setting a record for food imports in the country’s history. Over the past decade, food imports have more than doubled, rising by 2.4 times, with a notable 52.5% growth in the last five years alone.

Azerbaijan’s Finance Minister Samir Sharifov and UAE’s Minister of State for Financial Affairs Mohamed Hadi Al-Husseini discussed strengthening cooperation in the financial sector during a meeting in Dubai, the UAE Ministry of Finance said on social media platform X.