Baku, Azerbaijan, 26 February 2023 – President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, H.E. Ilham Aliyev, has granted an audience to Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) Group Chairman, H.E. Dr. Muhammad Al Jasser, in the capital city of Baku.

The discussions revolved around cooperation between IsDB Group and Azerbaijan to support the country's socio-economic development, based on the country’s priorities stated in its  Strategy 203.

H.E. President Alieve thanks IsDB for its support during difficult times and good times. He hoped to enhance this cooperation by developing a work program that covers short- and long-term engagement.

H.E. Dr. Al Jasser expressed his gratitude to H.E. President Aliyev for the warm welcome and hospitality extended to him during his visit to Azerbaijan, and acknowledged the strong relationship between IsDB Group and the Government of Azerbaijan. He expressed the organization's continued commitment to fostering cooperation with the country.

The IsDB President also reiterated the Bank's keen interest in supporting the government of Azerbaijan's development efforts in Karabakh and other regions in the country according to the government's plans and priorities.

In his remarks, H.E. Dr. Al Jasser appreciated the Government of Azerbaijan's generous financial support through the Azerbaijan International Development Agency (AIDA) to the Alliance to Fight Avoidable Blindness (AFAB). Several IsDB Group member states have benefited from this program..

The IsDB Group Chairman congratulated H.E. President Aliyev on Azerbaijan's accession to the Islamic Corporation for the Insurance of Investment and Export Credit (ICIEC) in January 2023, highlighting that this membership would open new opportunities for enhanced collaboration.

H.E. Dr. Al Jasser updated H.E. President Aliyev on IsDB's flagship Trade Development Program, which ITFC is currently structuring to contribute to trade development among OIC members of CIS countries, namely Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan. The program will act as a driver for unlocking regional and global trade.

He pointed out that IsDB had initiated a Reverse Linkage project between Azerbaijan and Tajikistan to help the Government of Tajikistan benefit from Azerbaijan's most successful expertise in e-Governance through its ASAN service. He expressed his eagerness to sign the MOU with ASAN during his visit.

He commended the debt management of the GoA and stressed the importance of south-south cooperation and reverse linkage to let member countries benefit from Azerbaijan’s knowledge and expertise

Finally, the IsDB President reiterated the Bank's commitment to continuing its support for the country to facilitate the development of regional  connectivity initiatives, reconstruction of Karabakh, digital transformation, and renewable energy projects in accordance with the country's development priorities.