Azerbaijan and India have agreed to coordinate more closely on the International North-South Transport Corridor, expand investment beyond oil and gas and arrange new contacts between businesses.
The agreements emerged from talks in Baku on Oct. 23 between Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov and Indian External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar. Their meeting followed Jaishankar’s talks with President Ilham Aliyev.
At a joint briefing, Bayramov said the two sides had openly discussed disagreements that had constrained bilateral relations and cooperation in international organizations in recent years. He said the discussion should provide a basis for expanding ties.
Investment, Business and Direct Flights
Jaishankar said the countries had agreed to expand investment in new non-oil sectors alongside energy cooperation. They also plan to exchange trade delegations and strengthen coordination on the North-South corridor.
Bayramov said more than 1,000 Indian companies operate in Azerbaijan. He identified pharmaceuticals, digital services, mining and energy as promising areas and said the two countries had agreed to organize a meeting between their business communities.
Azerbaijani and Indian aviation authorities are expected to hold separate talks as Baku seeks more direct flights. Five hundred Indian students began studying in Azerbaijan in 2026, Bayramov said.
India welcomed progress in the peace process between Azerbaijan and Armenia and said regional disagreements should be resolved through dialogue and diplomacy.