Taxes Increased by 16.5%

Azerbaijan's Cabinet of Ministers approved a new sanitary-protection zone spanning 289.5 hectares for the Dashalti State Nature Reserve on Sunday, in a move aimed at strengthening environmental protection measures. The decision, signed by Prime Minister Ali Asadov, aligns with national legislation on protected areas and implements provisions of a 2014 presidential decree amending the law on "Specially Protected Natural Areas and Objects."

During a working visit to the United Arab Emirates, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev met with UAE President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan on January 13, 2025, in Abu Dhabi. The meeting underscored the strengthening of bilateral relations between the two countries, with a special emphasis on energy cooperation, climate change efforts, and mutual investments.

Azerbaijan's Consumer Price Index (CPI) in December 2024 marked a year-on-year increase of 4.9%, with food and beverage inflation leading the surge, according to data from the State Statistics Committee. The overall CPI stood at 104.9%, driven by a 5.5% rise in food products, beverages, and tobacco, 2.4% in non-food products, and a sharp 6.3% hike in paid services provided to the population.

In 2024, Azerbaijan produced 29.1 million tonnes of oil together with condensate, down from 30.2 million tonnes in 2023, according to preliminary information published by the country’s Ministry of Energy.