The prospects of bilateral cooperation between Astrakhan Region and Azerbaijan were discussed during a working meeting in Moscow between Astrakhan Region Governor Igor Babushkin and Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Azerbaijan to the Russian Federation Rahman Mustafayev.
Ilya Volynsky, Deputy Chairman of the Government of the Astrakhan Region, and Vladimir Golovkov, Minister of External Relations of the region, took part in the conversation.
"We regularly discuss issues of developing our cooperation with the President of Azerbaijan," Igor Babushkin stressed. – Last year, I met with Ilham Aliyev twice, in May and December. We are deeply grateful and highly appreciate his support in strengthening friendly contacts between Azerbaijan and the Astrakhan region."
The sides discussed issues of cooperation in trade, economic and humanitarian spheres. Special attention was paid to the development of the International North–South Transport Corridor.
During the meeting with the Ambassador, the Governor noted that in addition to the Trans-Caspian corridor route, the region is actively developing cargo transportation along its western overland branch.
"We have a successful automobile and railway logistics hub in Astrakhan. The project is being implemented by an Azerbaijani investor," Igor Babushkin said. – This hub accepts agricultural and other goods from Azerbaijan, and goods coming to us in transit through Azerbaijan from Iran, Turkey, Pakistan and India. In 2024, more than 20,000 tons of cargo were handled."
During the conversation, the prospects of industrial cooperation with Azerbaijani shipbuilders were discussed.
"Astrakhan shipbuilding enterprises are ready to implement joint projects with their Azerbaijani colleagues on the construction of various types of vessels," the head of the region said.
The Governor noted the productive activities of the Azerbaijan Business Center in Astrakhan and the Astrakhan Business Center in Baku, which serve as convenient venues for business negotiations between Russian and Azerbaijani entrepreneurs, as well as for various exhibitions, presentations and conferences.
Igor Babushkin considers the development of cooperation with Azerbaijan in the field of education to be an important area. Currently, more than 800 students from Azerbaijan are studying at Astrakhan universities and colleges. In 2024, by the decision of the President of Azerbaijan, students of V.N. Tatishchev ASU received scholarships from the Republic of Azerbaijan for the first time.
"Astrakhan universities are ready to expand the training of specialists in the main marine and river specialties for the Caspian Littoral countries, including Azerbaijan," the head of the region stressed.
Igor Babushkin told Rahman Mustafayev about the projects of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation that have been implemented in the Astrakhan region, informed him about the construction of a preschool in the East Zangezur region of Azerbaijan, which is run by the Astrakhan Business Center in Baku, and also spoke about the development of interregional cooperation between the Astrakhan region and the Absheron region of Azerbaijan.
Another important area of cooperation that was discussed at the meeting was ecology.
"The problem of shallowing the Caspian Sea is very urgent. On the instructions of the President of Russia, we involved Astrakhan experts in studying the issue, and then, following the meeting between Vladimir Putin and Ilham Aliyev, we created a bilateral working group on the issue of shallowing the Caspian Sea. Its first meeting was held in Baku. We plan to include representatives of all Caspian Littoral countries in this working group," the Governor noted.
The Governor thanked the representatives of Azerbaijan for participating in international events held in the Astrakhan region: the Caspian Media Forum, the Caspian Seasons Festival of Classical Art, the Caspian Scientific and Educational Congress, and the Caspian Sports Games.
He also noted the active joint work of youth organizations of the Astrakhan region and Azerbaijan, including within the framework of the BeregA Youth educational forum.
In turn, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Azerbaijan to the Russian Federation Rahman Mustafayev noted:
"For us, the Astrakhan region is a very close region, as it happened historically. We treat Astrakhan residents with great warmth. In many ways, you are a flagship region in the development of good-neighborly relations between Azerbaijan and Russia. For my part, I will make every effort to expand and deepen our interregional cooperation."