Baku, September 22, 2025
President Ilham Aliyev sent a message to participants of the first Azerbaijan International Investment Forum (AIIF 2025), calling the gathering a “new stage” in the country’s partnership with global investors. The message was read out in Baku by Shahmar Movsumov, head of the presidential department for economic affairs and innovation policy.
Aliyev highlighted Azerbaijan’s transformation since independence, pointing to $344.4 billion in foreign investment between 2004 and 2024, with more than $213 billion directed into the non-oil sector.
“This is clear proof of international confidence in Azerbaijan, and in the atmosphere of safety and stability we have created,” he said.
Economic Base and Diversification
The president stressed that Azerbaijan’s economy is built on a “solid and fundamental base.” The landmark “Contract of the Century” signed under Heydar Aliyev, he noted, laid the groundwork for major transnational projects stretching from Asia to Europe. Today, the focus is shifting to non-oil growth. Between 2021 and 2024, the non-oil sector expanded by an average of 6.7 percent annually, now accounting for 68 percent of GDP. Non-oil exports have nearly doubled in six years.
Aliyev also pointed to the establishment of nine industrial parks and four industrial districts, attracting more than 6.9 billion manats in investment and creating 11,000 permanent jobs. Private enterprise now accounts for 81.4 percent of economic activity.
“Sustainable development has improved the welfare of our population and strengthened the state financially,” he said.
Fiscal and Regional Strength
According to the president, state budget revenues have risen 2.4 times since 2017, while foreign debt has fallen to just 6.5 percent of GDP – among the lowest globally. Strategic currency reserves have nearly doubled. Azerbaijan’s geographic location, he added, makes it a “strategic hub” for regional policy, with rising transit volumes along the Middle Corridor and major infrastructure such as the Baku International Sea Trade Port and the Alat Free Economic Zone.
Energy and Green Transition
Aliyev emphasized energy as a cornerstone of Azerbaijan’s international role. Alongside natural gas, the country is advancing solar and wind projects, a green energy zone in Karabakh and East Zangazur, and “smart infrastructure” initiatives. “We are strengthening today’s energy security while building the green economy of tomorrow,” he said.
Call to Investors
The president urged participants to seize opportunities in sectors ranging from logistics and digital services to renewable energy and tourism. “Our partners can make a significant contribution to Azerbaijan’s sustainable development, technological progress, and the prosperity of the wider region,” he said.
He closed with an invitation: “Bring your capital, technologies and ideas to Azerbaijan. Turning your initiatives into real projects here will create a solid basis for successful cooperation and shared prosperity.”
