A proposal has been put forward to hold the next meeting of the Ministers of Industry, Science, Technology, and Innovation of the Turkic States Organization (TSO) in Azerbaijan.

Axar.az reports that according to the Ministry of Economy, this proposal was voiced by Economy Minister Mikayil Jabbarov at the 1st Meeting of TSO Ministers of Industry, Science, Technology, and Innovations held in Istanbul, Turkiye.

The proposal has been accepted by the participating countries.

At the event attended by the Azerbaijani delegation led by M. Jabbarov, Turkey's Minister of Industry and Technology, Mehmet Fateh Kacır, expressed hope that the discussions and bilateral meetings would be productive and contribute to the strengthening of future relations.

The Secretary-General of the TSO, Kubanichbek Omuraliev, emphasized the importance of cooperation stemming from the necessity of historical and cultural partnerships among member states and expressed confidence that the meeting would be significant in strengthening mutual engagement.

At the meeting, Economy Minister M. Jabbarov stated that strengthening joint activities among Turkic states guarantees the prosperity, economic growth, and sustainable development of our countries. Azerbaijan highly values cooperation with Turkic states and supports integration processes in the Turkic world. It was emphasized that today’s event in Istanbul would be significant for evaluating opportunities to enhance initiatives in the development of the non-oil industry, promotion of trade and investments, support for SMEs, implementation of modern technologies, and advancements in science, innovation, and digitalization.

It has been reported that in the document "Azerbaijan 2030: National Priorities for Socio-Economic Development," "A Clean Environment and a Green Growth Country" has been identified as one of the priority directions. This includes significant emphasis on the implementation of environmentally friendly technologies, promotion of waste recycling, restoration of polluted areas, and expansion of the application of eco-friendly "green" technologies. Additionally, the establishment of new industrial zones in the liberated areas, the adoption of favorable incentive packages for entrepreneurs in these regions, and the declaration of the region as a green energy zone are steps aimed at accelerating development.

The Economy Minister also highlighted various global initiatives announced by our country, which will host the 29th session of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP29) this November.

It was noted at the event that investments play a significant role in ensuring economic development and macroeconomic stability for TSO countries. Consequently, important work has been done in recent years in the field of investments among TSO countries, leading to the establishment of the Turkic Investment Fund aimed at stimulating the economic development of member states. Additionally, investment funds created between Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan, Azerbaijan and Kyrgyzstan, and Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan will contribute to the economic development and improvement of living standards in these countries.

The Minister also emphasized the importance of establishing Green SME Resource Centers and Research and Development (R&D) activities, providing information about institutional platforms that will facilitate access to technology, knowledge, and financial resources. He proposed holding the next meeting of the Ministers of Industry, Science, Technology, and Innovation of the Turkic States Organization in Azerbaijan, a proposal that was accepted by the participating countries. During the meeting, representatives from member states delivered speeches, and a Joint Declaration on the outcomes of the 1st Meeting of the Ministers of Industry, Science, Technology, and Innovations of the Turkic States Organization was adopted.