Azerbaijan – Belarus: A partnership proven by time New deals, new opportunities

Traditionally strong Azerbaijani-Belarusian intergovernmental and trade-economic relations have long taken on a strategic character. Based on strong government support for all implemented initiatives, entrepreneurs from both countries are consistently expanding cooperation, strengthening investment and production project sectors. This positive trend was once again confirmed during the official visit of Belarusian Prime Minister Alexander Turchin to Azerbaijan. As a result of the visit, a number of bilateral documents were signed, and a business forum, business meetings, and B2B sessions were held, including contracts worth nearly $19 million being signed.

"The effective interaction between the two countries is largely facilitated by mutual visits and meetings at the highest level, reached agreements, and signed documents. Through the joint efforts of Presidents Ilham Aliyev and Alexander Lukashenko, the Azerbaijani-Belarusian partnership today is developing in all areas and is of a comprehensive nature," said Azerbaijani Prime Minister Ali Asadov during an extended meeting with his Belarusian counterpart, Alexander Turchin. "Today, we had a very constructive and substantive conversation on the most important issues of our cooperation."

The immense potential of Azerbaijani-Belarusian economic cooperation is evidenced by the fact that in recent years, Belarus, alongside Russia and Kazakhstan, has consistently ranked among the top three trading partners of Azerbaijan in the post-Soviet space. The previous peak in mutual trade between Baku and Minsk was reached in the pre-crisis year of 2018, when bilateral trade turnover increased almost threefold, reaching $465 million. In the post-pandemic period, trade between the two countries has somewhat decreased due to objective reasons; however, the results of the past year indicate a rapid growth: according to Belarusian statistics, trade turnover increased by 46% and neared the significant mark of $500 million.

"At the end of last year, Azerbaijan rose from 13th to 11th place among Belarus's trade partners and ranked 7th in terms of export volume: Azerbaijan confidently moved up in our export ranking, which reflects the steady development of economic cooperation, the systematic work of our companies, and regular bilateral visits," said the Chairman of the Belarusian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BelCCI), Mikhail Myatlikov, during the business forum.

According to him, the current meeting proved to be quite productive: following the business forum, 12 agreements were signed, valued at $18.9 million. The contracts mainly cover the supply of confectionery, dairy, and other food products, construction materials, fabrics, rubber products, and automotive tires.

The two friendly nations aim to maintain stable commercial trends in 2025. "In the first quarter of this year, trade turnover between the countries reached $101.6 million, with Azerbaijani exports to Belarus increasing by 82% to $17 million," said Yusuf Abdullayev, Executive Director of the Azerbaijan Export and Investment Promotion Agency (AZPROMO), during the forum. "The consistent implementation of measures outlined in the 2024–2025 roadmap has already yielded noticeable results in strengthening trade-economic and investment cooperation, and it holds promising prospects for the industrial sector."

Emphasising entrepreneurs' interest in boosting exports, the head of AZPROMO reminded that the Azerbaijan Trade House operates in Belarus, successfully promoting Azerbaijani wine products and food items. In addition, Azerbaijani mineral water will soon be available on the Belarusian market: "A contract has already been signed for the supply of 'Istisu' mineral water, and this is not just a trade project, but a symbol of the revival of the liberated territories of our country."

As Yusuf Abdullayev noted, around 70 companies from both sides, representing almost all key sectors of the economy, participated in the business forum. As a result, important trade agreements were signed, with a particularly significant memorandum of cooperation between the Azerbaijani Small and Medium Business Development Agency (KOBIA) and the Belarusian Universal Commodity Exchange (BUCE).

According to last year's results, the exchange turnover between Belarus and Azerbaijan amounted to $107 million, and in the first quarter of 2025, it reached $35 million. Currently, 156 Azerbaijani companies are accredited at BUCE.

Notably, Baku and Minsk have been successfully cooperating in the investment sector for many years, including in the fields of manufacturing, agriculture, transport, pharmaceuticals, and high technologies. One example of this cooperation is that about 70% of all tractors in Azerbaijan are of Belarusian origin. Specifically, since 2007, within the framework of Azerbaijani-Belarusian cooperation, over 14,000 Belarus tractors and approximately 3,000 MAZ trucks have been assembled at the Ganja Automobile Plant, along with many thousands of agricultural machinery attachments. Last year, GanjaAZ signed a trilateral agreement with the Minsk Automobile Plant and the Belarusian company "Pozhsnab" for the assembly of various types of emergency and firefighting equipment in Azerbaijan.

Recently, further memoranda were signed in Baku to enhance cooperation in the supply of Belarusian automotive kits for the assembly of tractors and municipal machinery. In the future, the partners plan to establish joint production of combine harvesters and passenger transport.

As part of his official visit to Baku, Belarusian Prime Minister Alexander Turchin visited the recently established joint venture for the assembly of elevators. Along with the supply of Belarusian components from Mogilevliftmash, production of individual parts and units will be organised at the Azerbaijani enterprise.

Baku views Minsk as a promising partner in the projects aimed at the revival of the Karabakh and Eastern Zangezur economic regions. Various partnership models are being explored to develop agro-processing and veterinary enterprises, as well as to build smart villages and agricultural settlements in these areas.

Baku and Minsk have long been successfully cooperating in areas such as social security, digital projects, public administration modernisation, agriculture, and more. New agreements in these areas were signed at the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Azerbaijan during an extended meeting of the prime ministers of both countries. Specifically, a memorandum of understanding was signed between the Azerbaijan Agency for Sustainable and Operational Social Security and the Republican Unitary Enterprise "National Centre for Electronic Services." Additionally, an action plan for 2025–2026 was adopted between the social departments of both countries, as well as an action plan for 2025–2027 on cooperation in the field of veterinary services.