Winemaking Plant in Jalilabad Put Up for Investment Competition

New data reveal dramatic increases in both foreign arrivals and Azerbaijani departures, highlighting the country’s evolving role as a regional travel hub. In a striking demonstration of its growing global connectivity, Azerbaijan saw a significant surge in international arrivals during 2024. According to figures released by the State Border Service, the country welcomed approximately 2.63 million non-citizen visitors—a 25.9% increase over the previous year—representing travelers from 196 countries. The latest data underscore Azerbaijan’s escalating prominence on the international stage, both as a destination and a departure point.

Global food prices decreased in 2024, but Azerbaijan bucked the trend, recording a rise in food expenditures. Experts believe this necessitates urgent expansion of agricultural production to safeguard the domestic market.

Italy, one of the European Union's largest economies, solidified its position as a key importer of Azerbaijani natural gas in 2024, despite a notable decline in domestic gas consumption. The country imported 58.7 billion cubic meters (bcm) of natural gas, meeting most of its annual demand of 61.7 bcm—a 2.5% drop compared to 2023. This data, reported by the Italian energy market regulator GME, highlights shifts in Italy’s energy sourcing and consumption patterns.

BP, the operator of the Shah Deniz gas condensate field, announced on Sunday that production from the Shah Deniz Alpha platform resumed on the evening of January 18. This followed the complete resolution of a technical issue with the subsea condensate export pipeline between the Shah Deniz Alpha platform and the Sangachal terminal.