OIC expects most Muslim countries to invest in Azerbaijan’s liberated territories

The Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) intends to expand trade relations with Azerbaijan and expects that most Muslim countries will show interest in investing in the liberated territories, a senior OIC official said.

Ahmad Kawesa Sengendo, Adviser to the OIC Secretary-General on Economic Affairs, told domestic media:

“As Azerbaijan restores territories liberated from occupation — including the city of Shusha and other regions — we hope that most Muslim countries will invest in their development. Azerbaijan is an important OIC member and plays a key role in many areas, actively participating in all major organisational events and hosting some of them. We are grateful to the Azerbaijani government for this cooperation and believe that these ties will grow even stronger in the future,” he said.

The adviser added that the OIC seeks to benefit from Azerbaijan’s extensive experience in oil and gas, agriculture, and food security. He emphasised that Azerbaijan has numerous export products, and further expansion of trade relations is expected through cooperation mechanisms.

“Azerbaijan occupies a strategic location and is an important transport hub, facilitating connections with Central Asia. Many Azerbaijani products, including foodstuffs, are already exported to Central Asian countries. It is expected that Azerbaijan will also increase its economic activity in Africa and the Arab world,” the OIC representative noted.

He said several important events will take place in Azerbaijan in the coming months: “The most important is the planned OIC Summit in Baku in 2026. In addition, the annual meeting of the Islamic Development Bank will also be held in Baku next year.”

Sengendo also referred to the 2nd Azerbaijan Halal Business Forum (AZHAB) held in Baku, calling it a promising initiative for developing the halal industry in the region: “Baku is expected to become a centre for halal industry development in the region, producing both halal and related products to serve the Muslim Ummah.”

From January to August this year, trade turnover between Azerbaijan and OIC countries amounted to approximately $6 billion. About 11,000 companies from OIC countries operate in Azerbaijan.

After regaining independence, Azerbaijan was the first of the former Soviet republics to apply for OIC membership and was admitted as a full member on December 8, 1991, at the 5th OIC Conference of Heads of States and Governments held in Dakar.

By Tamilla Hasanova