In a period when the centers of economic power in Asia are changing, the strategic importance of transport corridors is increasing, and digital transformation is reshaping economic relations, the role of multilateral cooperation platforms is increasing. In this regard, the 7th Summit of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia (CICA) held in Baku is of great importance in terms of strengthening Azerbaijan's diplomatic position, deepening economic cooperation in Asia and developing regional connections.

Ilyas Huseynov, Head of the Turkic World Studies Center of the Center for Analysis of Economic Reforms and Communication, said that CICA, which currently unites 28 states and covers approximately 90 percent of Asia, is a dialogue platform with broad geographical and economic potential. This format, which includes China, India, Russia, Turkey, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and other states, creates favorable opportunities for expanding cooperation in the fields of trade, investment, transport, energy, digital economy and sustainable development.

Azerbaijan began its chairmanship of the CICA for 2024–2026 on December 17, 2024. The main goal of the chairmanship, based on the priority “A Stronger CICA: Connectivity, Digitalization and Sustainable Growth in Asia,” is to complement political dialogue with concrete cooperation mechanisms.

One of the distinctive features of the chairmanship is the expansion of the institutional capabilities of the CICA. In 2025, decisions were made to establish the Women's Council and the Financial Summit mechanism, and the activities of the partnership network of leading universities were promoted. At the same time, business forums and events in the field of transport and logistics served to strengthen the practical content of economic cooperation.

The head of the Turkic World Studies Center noted that confidence-building within the CICA is also of great importance from an economic perspective. Mutual trust is an essential condition for predictability of the investment climate, simplification of customs procedures, continuity of cross-border transportation, and implementation of long-term economic projects. Therefore, during the Azerbaijani chairmanship, one of the main priorities was to translate political dialogue into measurable results in the areas of trade, investment and infrastructure.

Azerbaijan’s position within the CICA is determined primarily by its location at the crossroads of Europe and Asia, access to the Caspian Sea and developing transport and logistics infrastructure. The Baku International Sea Trade Port, railways and highway network expand the country’s regional transit opportunities. However, increasing economic efficiency should not be limited to increasing the volume of freight transportation. The development of areas such as warehousing, cargo consolidation, customs services, digital tracking and logistics financing can increase the added value obtained from transit.

Azerbaijan’s foreign economic relations also create an important basis for this cooperation. According to the State Statistics Committee, the country’s foreign trade turnover in 2025 amounted to 48.91 billion US dollars. Of this, 24.53 billion dollars were exports and 24.38 billion dollars were imports. Foreign trade turnover increased by 3.2 percent compared to the previous year. Exports of non-oil and gas products increased by 8.1 percent, reaching $3.63 billion.

Ilyas Huseynov said that these indicators show the importance for Azerbaijan of expanding economic relations with the members of the CICA. Access to new markets, increasing non-oil exports, attracting investments and developing industrial cooperation can contribute to economic diversification. In particular, the export of high-value-added products and digital services is important in terms of long-term economic sustainability.

Digitalization and green development occupy a special place in the economic agenda of the CICA. Mutual recognition of electronic customs documents, improving information exchange and digitalization of logistics systems can reduce transportation times and operating costs. Artificial intelligence and data analytics allow for more efficient organization of the activities of ports, railways and logistics centers.

Another important direction is cooperation in the fields of renewable energy, energy efficiency, green financing and climate-resilient infrastructure. Azerbaijan’s position in the field of energy connectivity and the experience gained within the framework of COP29 create additional opportunities for regional initiatives in this direction. At the same time, the success of projects will depend on the alignment of financing mechanisms, technological capabilities and regulatory frameworks.

In May 2025, the 8th plenary meeting of the CICA Business Council and the 10th Business Forum were held in Baku. The events discussed industrial cooperation, the participation of small and medium-sized enterprises in global value chains, e-commerce, digital transformation and green transition. The continuation of these initiatives can help complement interstate cooperation with direct contacts between business entities and financial institutions.

According to the head of the Turkic World Studies Center, the 7th CICA Summit is an important stage in terms of assessing the priorities of Azerbaijan's chairmanship for 2024–2026 and determining future directions of cooperation. At the next stage, the main focus should be on ensuring political agreements with concrete action mechanisms.

To this end, it is appropriate to set measurable targets for expanding trade between member states, accelerating border-crossing and port operations, mutual recognition of digital documents, promoting joint investment projects and financing green economy initiatives. The implementation timeframes of the goals and coordination with the responsible institutions can strengthen the results-oriented nature of the economic agenda of the CICA.

Cooperation within the CICA is of strategic importance for Azerbaijan in terms of both expanding regional transit opportunities and increasing the export potential of the non-oil sector. Our country's chairmanship creates an opportunity to link the strengthening of mutual trust in Asia with the goals of developing economic ties, investment cooperation and sustainable growth.

Consequently, the main strategic importance of the 7th Summit in Baku is to transform the vast geographical potential of the CICA into practical economic cooperation. Continuing the institutional initiatives formed during the Azerbaijani chairmanship, strengthening transport and digital connections, and promoting trade and investment projects can increase the role of the CICA in regional economic cooperation. This approach will serve to strengthen Azerbaijan's international economic position and advance the sustainable development agenda in Asia.