Realizing investment opportunities in Azerbaijan, attracting foreign investment, and strengthening the country’s integration into the global economic system are among the key priorities of the state’s economic policy. The development of the Azerbaijan International Investment Forum as a sustainable international platform pursuant to the Order signed by the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan on August 7, 2026, is one of the steps aimed at advancing these priorities.

Baghish Ahmadov, Advisor to the Executive Director of the Center for Analysis of Economic Reforms and Communication, stated that international investment forums are an important instrument for identifying new opportunities for cooperation in investment, presenting potential projects, and facilitating the implementation of investment initiatives. In this regard, they can also be viewed as a mechanism for mobilizing investment resources to support the realization of the objectives set out in the country’s socio-economic development programs. For example, at the 1st Azerbaijan International Investment Forum, held in September 2025, investment agreements worth more than USD 10 billion in total were signed, with more than USD 7 billion of this amount allocated to the non-oil sector.

The 2nd Azerbaijan International Investment Forum is dedicated to the theme “Restoring Trust in a Fragmented World: The South Caucasus as a Pillar of Global Connectivity and Investment Stability.” The theme of the Forum is particularly relevant at a time when comprehensive measures are being implemented to ensure sustainable peace and stability in the South Caucasus, new regional connectivity links are being established, and the impact of technology and artificial intelligence on economic processes is rapidly expanding worldwide.

The Forum’s agenda is directly aligned with Azerbaijan’s long-term socio-economic development priorities and covers various areas, including the Middle Corridor, energy and the green transition, artificial intelligence and digital transformation, industry and free economic zones, financial cooperation, agribusiness, tourism, real estate, and investment in human capital. These areas envisage both leveraging Azerbaijan’s existing economic and geographical advantages and expanding investment opportunities in new technological and innovative sectors.

Diversifying the economy and ensuring economic growth primarily through the non-oil sector are among the key objectives of Azerbaijan’s economic policy. The Forum’s inclusion of industry, agribusiness, tourism, finance, real estate, and other sectors on its investment agenda is directly linked to this objective. The development of industrial parks and free economic zones is an important instrument for expanding production capacity. Attracting foreign investors to these platforms contributes to technology transfer and the expansion of new production opportunities.

Increasing investment in agribusiness is important for enhancing economic activity in rural areas. In this regard, ensuring that investments cover all stages of the value chain, from agricultural production and processing to logistics and marketing, would enable an increase in the added value generated in the country.

Baghish Ahmadov noted that the development of transport and logistics infrastructure in Azerbaijan, while enabling more efficient use of the country’s transit potential, also creates opportunities for establishing new production and service sectors, increasing economic activity in the regions, and integrating the country into international value chains. In this regard, attracting investment to the Middle Corridor could have a multiplier effect not only on the transport sector but also on the development of industrial and service sectors.

Increasing investment in renewable energy sources, electricity transmission infrastructure, and other green technologies creates opportunities to reconcile economic growth with environmental sustainability. In this regard, directing foreign investment toward green energy projects contributes both to the transformation of the energy sector and to Azerbaijan’s participation in new regional energy connectivity initiatives.

Artificial intelligence and digital transformation are other important areas on the Forum’s agenda. This area is linked to the objectives of increasing innovation potential and developing the digital economy envisaged in the country’s socio-economic development programs. Increasing investment in artificial intelligence, digital infrastructure, and the innovation ecosystem can enhance the efficiency of service and production processes in both the public and private sectors, facilitate the development of new business models, and support the growth of economic activities generating high added value. At the same time, the application of artificial intelligence in industry, agriculture, finance, and other sectors creates opportunities for expanding investment opportunities across sectors.

The technological transformation of the modern economy is increasing demand for new skills in the labor market. In this regard, investment in workforce training aligned with labor market requirements plays an important role in ensuring sustainable economic growth. Bringing these issues to the attention of the international business community through the Investment Forum makes it possible to view human capital not only as a social factor but also as a factor of economic competitiveness.

Baghish Ahmadov added that the key areas included in the agenda of the 2nd Azerbaijan International Investment Forum are interconnected with the priorities identified in the country’s socio-economic development programs. Industry and free economic zones support economic diversification; the Middle Corridor and logistics contribute to international economic integration; green energy supports environmentally sustainable development; artificial intelligence and digitalization contribute to innovation and productivity growth; agribusiness supports regional development; and human capital serves as an investment area supporting long-term competitiveness.