“The APJCCI delegation’s meeting with AZPROMO at its Baku headquarters was a pivotal encounter reflecting mutual intent to transform diplomatic goodwill into economic cooperation. At the outset, Mr. Tural Hajili, Deputy Executive Director of AZPROMO, warmly welcomed the Pakistani delegation. He congratulated them on the formation of APJCCI, calling it a welcome institutional step toward deeper private-sector engagement.
He candidly noted that, despite strong historic ties, the current volume of trade between Pakistan and Azerbaijan is far below its potential. To bridge that gap, AZPROMO is actively preparing feasibility studies for multiple projects, including in tourism and other non-oil sectors. Mr. Hajili further laid out the suite of incentives available to foreign investors: concessional loans, tax reliefs, exemptions from land and property taxes, and customs and VAT waivers on imported equipment, all contingent on holding investment promotion certificates. He encouraged Pakistani companies to explore these opportunities in Azerbaijan’s non-oil growth trajectory.
Mr. Ahsan Zafar Bakhtawari, Patron-in-Chief of APJCCI, underscored the significant market Pakistan offers for Azerbaijani food items and high-quality cosmetics. He also pointed out Pakistan’s interest in importing fertilizers from Azerbaijan as well as other agro-based inputs, reflecting a complementary trade orientation. He affirmed that Pakistan is working to diversify its export lines and pursue enhanced trade in sectors of mutual interest, with the shared goal of achieving USD 2 billion in bilateral trade, a target agreed by both governments.
In response to that invitation, Mr. Hajili confirmed that AZPROMO would lead a business delegation to Pakistan later this year or in early 2026. He distributed AZPROMO’s current investment guides and invited Pakistani companies to participate actively in sectors such as tourism, agribusiness, and light manufacturing. He emphasized that AZPROMO extends economic loans and support services to make foreign investment more viable.
After the formal meeting, AZPROMO organized a B2B networking session linking Pakistani and Azerbaijani firms. Later on, a Pakistani company signed a memorandum of understanding to import paints from Azerbaijan, an early, tangible outcome of the cooperative dialogue. Delegation members also visited manufacturing and processing sites, especially in the food sector, to assess potential collaboration and synergies on the ground.
This meeting with AZPROMO reinforced the shared commitment to move from dialogue to delivery, and laid the groundwork for a deeper and more balanced trade, investment, and industrial partnership between Pakistan and Azerbaijan.
