With its eyes on the “path of development”... Azerbaijan is betting on Iraq to enhance its regional

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[size=52]With its eyes on the “path of development”... Azerbaijan is betting on Iraq to enhance its regional involvement[/size]

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2023-11-22
A report by the Azerbaijani “Azeri News” network, on Wednesday, stated that the Iraqi-Turkish “development road,” and the railway connection between Iraq and Iran, is important to Azerbaijan.[/size]
[size=45]According to the Azerbaijani report, “The official visit made by Iraqi President Abdul Latif Rashid to Azerbaijan raises the importance of increased economic cooperation between the two countries soon, as they have great potential for cooperation, but due to the invasion and the instability that followed it, this potential did not succeed in transforming.” To reality.”[/size]
[size=45]The report indicated that Azerbaijani gas projects have been launched, and that the media discussed the possibility of Iraq joining the project to export its natural gas to Europe, adding that “Iraq can be an alternative to Azerbaijan to reach the Gulf as well.”[/size]
[size=45]He added, "Before the Corona outbreak, Baku was a desirable destination for Iraqi tourists, and some companies from both countries tried to engage in trade before the emergence of ISIS."[/size]
[size=45]The report continued, saying that “despite all attempts, the two ‘brotherly countries’ were unable to establish desired economic relations due to regional conflicts in the Middle East, or due to global instability such as that caused by Corona.”[/size]
[size=45]The report pointed out that last year, the volume of trade exchange between the two countries amounted to 29 million dollars, which is a very small amount compared to the capabilities of the two countries, as Azerbaijan exported products worth 28 million dollars, while it imported products from Iraq worth half a million dollars.[/size]
[size=45]But the report expressed “the hope in Azerbaijan that President Rashid’s official visit will constitute a new page in the relationship between the two countries,” noting that “the two countries signed memorandums of understanding and agreements in various fields to enhance political, economic, commercial and tourism cooperation.”[/size]
[size=45]He added, "The signing of these memorandums will serve as the first step towards enhancing social and economic cooperation and regional communication, which will create beneficial gains for both countries."[/size]
[size=45]The report quoted researcher Dr. Mahmud Al-Hassan Khan as saying, “Due to rapidly changing social and economic partnerships, conflicting geopolitical realities, and contradictory geostrategic preferences, Azerbaijan, under the leadership of Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, has initiated major regional and non-regional economic diplomacy to further diversify its macroeconomic and energy potential.” Food security and the volume of bilateral exports with Iraq, which has now become an ideal center for regional communication.”[/size]
[size=45]According to Al-Hassan Khan, the “development road” project in Iraq and the railway connection between Iran and Iraq are beneficial for Azerbaijan, which enjoys the status of the Middle Corridor, while bilateral relations between Azerbaijan and Iraq are gaining momentum.[/size]
[size=45]The report mentioned statements by the Iraqi President, in which he expressed the desire to expand the horizons of cooperation in the economic, investment, tourism and energy fields, and the need to encourage businessmen to invest, and that in order to attract more direct foreign investments, the Iraqi government is ready to protect and provide security and stability, and provide services to the people. Protecting infrastructure and raising the economic and investment level.[/size]
[size=45]The report quoted Al-Hassan Khan as saying that the meeting of the Joint Committee for Trade, Economic, Scientific, Technical and Cultural Cooperation between Azerbaijan and Iraq has now led to the strengthening of bilateral relations in various sectors of the economy, investment, infrastructure, energy, food, science and technology.[/size]
[size=45]The report concluded by saying that there is hope that strengthening bilateral relations between Azerbaijan and Iraq will be a balanced act to promote peace, prosperity, stability and economic sustainability in the region, adding that this will also lead to strengthening the strategy of the alternative route for Azerbaijan to engage with the broader region of the Gulf states and the Middle East in the coming period.[/size]
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