The Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) Business Forum, currently underway in the historic city of Shusha as part of the inaugural “ECO Week,” marks a pivotal moment for economic cooperation among member states. Jointly organized by Azerbaijan’s Ministry of Economy, the Azerbaijan Export and Investment Promotion Agency (AZPROMO), the ECO Secretariat, and the ECO Confederation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry, the forum underscores Azerbaijan’s rising prominence as a regional economic hub.

Azerbaijan’s active participation in ECO initiatives reflects its broader ambition to foster deeper economic integration within the region. Speaking at the forum’s opening session, Elnur Aliyev, First Deputy Minister of Economy of Azerbaijan, highlighted that trade turnover between Azerbaijan and other ECO countries reached $3.5 billion in 2025. This figure signals robust growth potential, driven by targeted reforms and strategic diversification beyond the energy sector.

The forum’s thematic focus - spanning food and agriculture, textiles, ICT, tourism, transport, and the circular economy - showcases a clear shift toward sustainable and diversified economic development. These sector-specific discussions, complemented by business-to-business (B2B) and business-to-government (B2G) meetings, are crucial mechanisms for catalyzing cross-border partnerships and investments.

Mammad Musayev, President of Azerbaijan’s National Confederation of Entrepreneurs (ASK), provided a sobering overview of the ECO’s economic landscape, noting a combined nominal GDP of approximately $2.4 trillion across member........

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