Azerbaijani and Turkish business representatives gathered in Nakhchivan to discuss cross-border trade, investment opportunities, and prospects for cooperation in various business sectors.
The 2nd Azerbaijan–Türkiye Regional Economic Forum was held in the city of Nakhchivan with the participation of officials and businesspeople. Before the opening ceremony, participants visited the monument to National Leader Heydar Aliyev located in the center of Nakhchivan city, laid flowers, and honored his memory with deep respect.
As part of the visit, the Authorized Representative of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan in the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic, Ceyhun Jalilov, met with the Turkish delegation participating in the 2nd Azerbaijan–Türkiye Regional Economic Forum.
Organized by the Ministry of Economy of the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic and the Small and Medium Business Development Agency (KOBIA), and supported by the Ministry of Economy of the Republic of Azerbaijan, the National Confederation of Entrepreneurs (Employers) Organizations of Azerbaijan (ASK), the Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Türkiye, the Kars Chamber of Commerce and Industry, “Cahan Holding,” and “Marsol Group,” the forum brought together representatives of relevant agencies from Azerbaijan and Türkiye, officials from the governorships, municipalities, and chambers of commerce of regions such as Kars, Iğdır, Ardahan, and Erzurum, as well as more than 200 businesspeople.
The purpose of the forum was to strengthen business relations between Azerbaijan and Türkiye—particularly between their regions—to highlight existing potential and opportunities for business cooperation, and to inform Turkish business representatives about the business and investment environment of the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic. Another key objective was to expand bilateral economic and trade relations, especially with Türkiye’s border regions.
The event began with the national anthems of Azerbaijan and Türkiye and the commemoration of the Great Leaders Heydar Aliyev and Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, as well as the martyrs.
In their speeches, the Authorized Representative of the President of Azerbaijan in the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic, Ceyhun Jalilov; Türkiye’s Consul General in Nakhchivan, Asip Kaya; Azerbaijan’s Consul General in Kars, Zamin Aliyev; Nakhchivan’s Minister of Economy, Kazim Huseynaliyev; Chairman of KOBIA’s Board, Orkhan Mammadov; and ASK Vice President and Co-Chair of the Azerbaijan–Türkiye Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Vugar Abbasov, shared their views on the development of political-economic relations and strategic partnership between the two countries, as well as opportunities for cooperation, business, and investment. It was noted that mutual steps taken in logistics, cross-border trade, investment, and SME support contribute to strengthening economic dynamism in the region and create new partnership opportunities. Speakers also emphasized the vast potential for cooperation in trade—especially cross-border trade—industry, tourism, transport-logistics, agriculture, and other sectors, and highlighted that effective use of these opportunities would significantly contribute to the development of economic relations between the two countries.
The Governor of Kars, Ziya Polat; the Governor of Iğdır, Ercan Turan; the Governor of Ardahan, Hayrettin Çiçek; Member of the Board of the Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Türkiye and Chairman of the Erzurum Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Saim Özakalın; Chairman of the Kars Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Kadir Bozan; and Mayor of Kars, Ötüken Senger, stressed the importance of economic cooperation in the region and cross-border business opportunities. They noted that the regions they represent have broad potential for cooperation with Azerbaijan, particularly with Nakhchivan, and that joint projects would contribute to the region’s sustainable economic development.
Within the framework of the forum, a presentation on the investment, trade, and logistics potential of Nakhchivan was showcased, and B2B meetings between Azerbaijani and Turkish business representatives were held. During the visit, Turkish businesspeople also familiarized themselves with the operations of several enterprises functioning in Nakhchivan.
It should be noted that the Azerbaijan–Türkiye Regional Economic Forum platform was established to promote and further develop cross-border trade, investment, and business cooperation between business communities of the two countries. The first forum was held in June 2025 in the Turkish city of Kars.
