Azerbaijan's gastro-tourism potential was showcased at the Madrid Fusion 2026 International Food Hub Congress held in Madrid, Spain, from January 26-28.
Operative Information Center-OMM reports that a national gastronomy stand was organized to promote the country's culinary heritage. The exhibition featured traditional cuisine samples, including biodiversity examples from the Slow Food "Ark of Taste" list, national confectionery, and various dried fruits.
The presentation included two masterclasses on national cuisine, promotional videos highlighting Azerbaijan's gastro-tourism opportunities, and tasting sessions for international visitors.
Ramiz Hasanov, Azerbaijan's Ambassador to the Kingdom of Spain and Permanent Representative to the UN Tourism Organization, visited the stand to inspect the displayed products. The national pavilion also hosted Ferran Adrià, the director of the "elBulli" foundation and a renowned three-star Michelin chef.
During the congress, Azada Huseynova, Deputy Chairperson of the State Tourism Agency, met with Stephanie Kim, International Director of the "La Liste" gastronomic classification organization. The parties discussed cooperation with "La Liste" as an international restaurant ranking body and the global recognition of Azerbaijani gastronomic products.
Furthermore, discussions on future cooperation were held with Jose Carlos Capel, founder of "Madrid Fusion" and the "Gastroactitud" digital gastronomy magazine. The talks focused on promoting Azerbaijan's culinary heritage across international digital platforms.
Meetings were also held with experts from the Spanish Federation of Chefs and Pastry Chefs (FACYRE) and the Confederation of Spanish Hospitality Businesses (HOSTELERÍA DE ESPAÑA). Key topics included the uniqueness of Absheron saffron and proposals for creating specialized saffron harvest tourism routes in Azerbaijan.
As one of the world's most prestigious gastronomic events, "Madrid Fusion" serves as a strategic platform annually bringing together food brands, tourism companies, government agencies, Michelin-starred chefs, and researchers from across the globe. Azerbaijan's participation in such forums aligns with the state's strategy to diversify its tourism sector and promote the "Made in Azerbaijan" brand through its rich culinary traditions and agricultural biodiversity.
