Azerbaijan prioritises effective partnership with WCO, says FM

Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov met with Secretary General of the World Customs Organisation (WCO) Ian Saunders on July 13, with the sides discussing the current state and prospects of cooperation between Azerbaijan and the organisation.

The meeting also addressed issues related to facilitating international trade, ensuring border security, digitalising customs systems, combating illegal trade, strengthening supply chain resilience, and developing capacity in the customs sector, Caliber.Az reports via the ministry.

Bayramov emphasised that Azerbaijan attaches particular importance to effective cooperation with the WCO. The minister informed the WCO chief about ongoing customs reforms in the country, the expansion of transit opportunities, and measures aimed at facilitating international trade.

FM noted that Azerbaijan’s contribution to the development of the East-West and North-South transport corridors plays an important role in strengthening regional and global trade links.

Bayramov also provided detailed information on new regional realities, the peace process, reconstruction efforts, and infrastructure projects in Azerbaijan’s territories liberated from occupation. He highlighted large-scale initiatives aimed at further strengthening Azerbaijan’s position as a key transport and logistics hub in Eurasia.

In this context, the Azerbaijani foreign minister noted that increasing the capacity of the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway, developing the Middle Corridor, expanding the capacity of the Port of Baku, an international trade port, and enhancing the Alat Free Economic Zone create new opportunities to improve the efficiency of customs procedures and facilitate trade.

The sides stressed the importance of further strengthening international customs cooperation, introducing innovative technologies, expanding information exchange, and developing institutional cooperation. They also exchanged views on other issues of mutual interest.

By Jeyhun Aghazada