Co-organized by Azerbaijan's Ministry of Economy, Iraq's Ministry of Trade, the Export and Investment Promotion Agency (AZPROMO), and the Federation of Iraqi Chambers of Commerce, an Azerbaijan-Iraq business forum took place in Baku.
The forum brought together around 100 businessmen from both countries, representing sectors such as agriculture, food, logistics, construction, consulting, and shipping, along with government officials.
In his speech, Azerbaijan’s Minister of Economy Mikayil Jabbarov highlighted the deep historical ties between Azerbaijan and Iraq, crediting the visionary policies of the heads of state for the development of bilateral relations. He noted that the signing of several memoranda of understanding in fields such as politics, social affairs, tourism, and transportation had further bolstered the partnership. According to him, between January and July of this year, trade turnover between Azerbaijan and Iraq saw a 49% increase. Currently, nearly 170 Iraqi companies are operating across various sectors in Azerbaijan.
Iraq’s Minister of Trade, Atheer Dawood Salman Al Ghrairi, emphasized the shared historical bonds between the two nations and expressed Iraq’s interest in expanding relations with Azerbaijan. He also identified key areas for enhancing economic collaboration.
Yusif Abdullayev, head of AZPROMO, spoke about the importance of strengthening ties between Azerbaijani and Iraqi business communities and outlined efforts to promote the "Made in Azerbaijan" brand.
Abdulrazaq Al-Zuheere, President of the Iraqi Federation of Chambers of Commerce, discussed Iraq’s investment environment and opportunities for cooperation in various sectors, while Orkhan Mammadov, Chairman of the Management Board of the Small and Medium Business Development Agency (KOBİA), highlighted initiatives supporting SMEs in Azerbaijan and the potential for collaboration with Iraqi businesses.
Mohammad Al-Davoudi, Chairman of the Iraq-Azerbaijan Business Council, emphasized the importance of business forums in fostering bilateral economic relations.
The event concluded with one-on-one meetings between entrepreneurs, further paving the way for strengthened cooperation.
