Trade target of $15B within reach: Türkiye’s Ambassador to Azerbaijan

Türkiye’s Ambassador to Baku Birol Akgun praised the exceptional state of Türkiye-Azerbaijan relations, emphasizing the unique bond shaped by cultural, linguistic, and historical commonalities.

Speaking during a visit to Anadolu Agency’s Baku office, Akgun noted that the leadership of Presidents Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Ilham Aliyev has played a pivotal role in anchoring bilateral ties.

“We have excellent relations both among our peoples and at the leadership level,” Akgun said. “What we need now is to deepen our cultural and economic engagement, enhance mutual understanding, and strengthen our vision for joint cooperation.”

Trade target of $15B within reach

Ambassador Akgun highlighted economic goals set by the countries’ presidents, revealing that the current trade volume stands at $6.5 billion. However, he expressed confidence that the goal of $15 billion could be achieved within the next three to five years if integration efforts continue to accelerate.

“This is not a dream,” he said. “With ongoing integration, it’s a very realistic target.”

Growing cooperation in energy and transport

Akgun emphasized high-level cooperation in the energy sector and ongoing infrastructure projects in transport and connectivity.

He mentioned that the reopening of the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway line this summer could significantly increase east-west cargo flow, potentially multiplying current capacity by five.

He also referred to a quadrilateral agreement between Azerbaijan, Georgia, Türkiye, and Bulgaria to transmit renewable electricity to Türkiye and then to European markets.

The corridor may extend as far as Romania and Moldova.

Strategic role of Middle Corridor and Zangezur link

Underscoring the geopolitical significance of the East-West Transport Corridor, Akgun said its full potential depends on a lasting peace agreement between Azerbaijan and Armenia, including the opening of the Zangezur corridor.

“If a peace deal is signed and the Zangezur passage opens, the Middle Corridor from China to London will greatly expand, enhancing the role of the Turkic world,” Akgun noted.

Shared sentiment between 2 nations

Akgun stated that Turkish companies are actively contributing to reconstruction efforts in Karabakh and that the peoples of Türkiye and Azerbaijan deeply value their bilateral relationship. Flags of both nations are seen flying side by side across the country.

He also recalled Azerbaijan’s swift humanitarian response following Türkiye’s recent earthquakes, saying the support demonstrated the strength of public sentiment and solidarity.

Opportunities in cultural and tourism sectors

On the cultural front, Akgun said there is considerable potential to strengthen ties through cultural tourism and heritage exchange. He called for increased collaboration in these areas to further enrich the people-to-people connection.