Georgia and Azerbaijan hold expanded talks on trade, energy and transport projects

Following a one-on-one meeting between Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev on Monday, negotiations continued in an expanded format with the participation of members of both governments.

Discussions focused on the growing trade and economic cooperation between the two countries and the importance of fully utilizing existing potential, the government press office said. 

The sides also highlighted close partnership in the energy sector and discussed major regional transport and energy projects jointly implemented by Georgia and Azerbaijan. Among them, the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway was noted as playing a key role in strengthening regional connectivity.

The meeting brought together senior officials from both sides. The Georgian delegation included foreign minister Maka Botchorishvili, economy minister Mariam Kvrivishvili, head of the government administration Levan Zhorzholiani, and Georgia’s ambassador to Azerbaijan Zurab Pataradze.

The Azerbaijani side was represented by foreign minister Jeyhun Bayramov, presidential foreign policy aide Hikmet Hajiyev, economy minister Mikayil Jabbarov, energy minister Parviz Shahbazov, digital development and transport minister Rashad Nabiyev, and Azerbaijan’s ambassador to Georgia Faig Guliyev.