Babiš’s Visit to Azerbaijan: Focus on exports and major contracts Czech Radio reports on high-Level talks in Baku

Czech media have widely covered the official visit of Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babiš to Azerbaijan (April 26–28). In particular, Czech Radio has highlighted that the main purpose of the trip was to boost Czech exports and secure major contracts, including in the transport and energy sectors.

The article noted that more than 50 Czech companies have accompanied Prime Minister Andrej Babiš and Deputy Prime Minister Karel Havlíček during their visit to Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, and Uzbekistan.

Czech Radio has reported that for Czech companies, Central Asia and the South Caucasus remain relatively underexplored markets, despite their size and strategic importance. According to the article, the Czech mission has aimed to change this, with a particular focus on turning existing contacts into concrete business outcomes.

Deputy Prime Minister Havlíček has stated on Czech Radio that the selection of companies reflects a well-considered strategy: to support firms that are already active in the region and need help finalising deals.

“We had around 150 companies interested, but we selected those that already have something negotiated — those who are ready to finalize contracts or launch concrete projects,” Karel Havlíček said. “This is not about exploring new markets, but about completing real business.”

The article also stressed that cooperation in the energy sector has played a central role, especially in Azerbaijan, which is one of the key suppliers of crude oil to the Czech Republic.

“Azerbaijan is one of our most important suppliers. About 42 percent of the oil coming to the Czech Republic comes from there,” Havlíček emphasised. “We are their second most important partner in Europe after Italy.”

It is also noted that another key area of cooperation has been transport infrastructure. “In Uzbekistan, Czech companies are negotiating a significant contract for train deliveries, while in Azerbaijan they are looking to supply metro carriages. These sectors have traditionally been among the strengths of Czech industry,” the article continued.