The Davos Days of President Aliyev

Azerbaijan’s participation in the 55th World Economic Forum in Davos highlights its strategic vision in global energy, logistics, and climate initiatives. President Ilham Aliyev presented key projects in renewable energy, economic transformation, and regional stability. Strengthening ties with global partners, Azerbaijan positions itself as a regional leader and vital transit hub, promoting sustainable development and driving impactful international collaborations.

Ilham Aliyev gives an interview to China's CGTN news channel in Davos. Source: President.az

The 55th World Economic Forum (WEF), which commenced on Monday in Davos, has become a crucial platform for advancing Azerbaijan’s economic agenda on the international stage. However, the discussions at the forum are not limited to economics. It is worth noting that the WEF annually gathers world leaders, representatives of international organizations, business, science, media, and the arts to address pressing global economic challenges and prospects. This year, the event takes place from January 20 to 24, bringing together over 3,000 participants, including 350 government representatives and 60 heads of state. Particular attention is being paid to adapting business strategies to geo-economic and technological changes, as well as attracting investments in human capital development and creating jobs in the IT sector.

President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev arrived in Davos on January 20 for a working visit. During the forum, he held numerous meetings with world leaders, heads of international organizations, and media representatives. As in the previous year, he gave an interview to the Chinese television channel CGTN, where he discussed Azerbaijan’s achievements and the country’s role in ensuring regional stability.

Among the key events of the visit were meetings with the President of Latvia, Edgars Rinkēvičs; German Chancellor, Olaf Scholz; Israeli President, Isaac Herzog; Ukrainian President, Volodymyr Zelensky; Iraqi President, Abdul Latif Jamal Rashid; and Prime Minister of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, Masrour Barzani. Discussions focused on bilateral relations, prospects for cooperation, and strengthening regional stability. Notably, the German Chancellor expressed support for Azerbaijan’s efforts to ensure peace and stability in the South Caucasus region.

What Did Azerbaijan Bring to Davos?

Azerbaijan is actively leveraging the Davos platform to showcase its achievements and promote strategic initiatives. At the forum, President Aliyev presented key projects, including the development of green energy, localization of production, and increased exports of agricultural products.

In meetings with leaders of Oliver Wyman Group, The Goldman Sachs Group, and DP World, discussions revolved around economic transformation, financial sector development, and modernization of transport infrastructure. Particular emphasis was placed on projects in traditional and green energy, including the implementation of eco-friendly technologies and the expansion of trade opportunities in the region. Representatives of DP World highlighted Azerbaijan’s strategic importance as a key transportation hub.

This is indeed the case. Positioned along the Middle Corridor, Azerbaijan continues to strengthen its role in global logistics. Sanctions against Russia have further increased the strategic significance of Azerbaijan as a vital transit point between Europe and Asia. It is forecasted that Azerbaijan’s transit revenues will grow by 20% over the next three years. Moreover, the Southern Gas Corridor (SGC), through which 12 billion cubic meters of gas were exported in 2024, has become an essential tool in reducing the European Union’s dependence on Russian energy resources.

The President of Azerbaijan also held productive talks with the head of Carlsberg Group, discussing plans to enhance production localization and expand investments. Collaboration with The Goldman Sachs Group, which began in 2010, covers the development of Azerbaijan’s financial sector and its integration into global investment flows.

The forum also served as a venue for discussing new agreements aimed at increasing gas supplies and expanding the geography of exports, solidifying Azerbaijan as a key partner for Europe. Furthermore, Davos provided an opportunity for negotiations with partners such as China, Kazakhstan, and Turkey, opening new prospects for economic cooperation.

The Climate Agenda

The energy and climate agenda hold a special place in Azerbaijan’s strategy. Climate change issues are of strategic importance for the country: the declining Caspian Sea levels, droughts, and soil degradation pose significant threats to agriculture and the environment. In response, Azerbaijan is actively promoting the development of renewable energy sources.

One of the key initiatives has been the transformation of Karabakh and the East Zangezur region into a “green zone,” which has already attracted the attention of global partners. In 2024, contracts were signed with ACWA Power (Saudi Arabia) and Masdar (UAE) for the construction of solar and wind power plants with a total capacity of 700 megawatts. Davos 2025 became an ideal platform to present these projects and attract new investments, including from the Green Climate Fund, aimed at reforestation and water resource management.

Azerbaijan’s Ministers of Economy and Ecology, Mikayil Jabbarov and Mukhtar Babayev, held productive discussions on energy transition aspects and climate change financing. During the session “Leaders’ Roundtable: Financing the Energy Transition — A New Horizon,” key challenges and opportunities in energy transformation were addressed.

The Minister of Ecology emphasized the importance of increasing climate financing, noting plans to expand its volume to $1.3 trillion. He also highlighted the successes of the COP29 conference, which resulted in a historic agreement to allocate $300 billion to developing countries. Among the achievements of the conference were agreements on carbon markets and other aspects of the green economy, opening new opportunities for the private sector and large-scale climate projects.

Further work is planned on national adaptation plans and new climate agenda goals through 2025. These initiatives strengthen Azerbaijan’s role as a regional leader in sustainable development and climate transformation.

Conclusion

Azerbaijan’s participation in the Davos Forum goes far beyond addressing current issues. The country reaffirms its readiness to become a regional leader, not only integrating into global processes but also setting the tone in key areas such as energy transition and climate responsibility.

In an era of global change and uncertainty, Azerbaijan demonstrates that its ambitions are backed by real potential. While challenges remain ahead, a strategy that combines vision and innovation paves the way for the country to establish itself as a leading regional power and a significant player on the global stage. Davos 2025 has become yet another milestone on this path.

Share This Article