Economist Khalid Karimli has evaluated Azerbaijan's relations with the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) and the potential prospects this cooperation holds for the national economy.
The Operative Information Center-OMM reports that the economist noted in his statement that Azerbaijan is currently not a member of the SCO and that the country has not yet observed concrete economic benefits from participating in the organization.
“We are not members of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization. We have not seen any direct benefits. We simply have bilateral relations with the members of this organization. Russia and China are among the members of the SCO. These two countries have always been in our top three trading partners. We have consistently sourced approximately 35-40 percent of our products from these nations. They play a particularly significant role in our imports,” said Khalid Karimli.
The economist noted that Russia also holds a significant share in Azerbaijan's non-oil exports:
“Russia is also the destination for approximately one-third of our non-oil exports. We also maintain relations with other SCO members in Central Asia through the Organization of Turkic States, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, and the Economic Cooperation Organization.”
Khalid Karimli emphasized that expanding cooperation with SCO countries could create significant economic prospects for Azerbaijan in the future, noting, “There could be great potential in cooperating with this organization and its members, as it includes China and India—countries that are growing very rapidly.”
The economist also addressed the current state of relations between India and Azerbaijan, which he described as strained. According to him, Azerbaijan's support for Pakistan's position amid the Pakistan-India conflict has negatively impacted India's attitude toward Azerbaijan:
“Unfortunately, relations with India are not very good. Until some time ago, Indian tourists accounted for over 10 percent of all tourists visiting Azerbaijan. However, as a result of the Pakistan-India conflict and our support for Pakistan's position, India's attitude toward our country has sharply deteriorated.”
Karimli stated that while Azerbaijan is not an SCO member, it maintains strategic cooperation with individual member states. “We have signed memoranda on strategic cooperation with two members of this organization. The first is with Russia, although relations have deteriorated recently. The second is with China; we signed such a strategic partnership pact with China last year.”
The economist also recalled Azerbaijan's interest in joining BRICS, noting that the country's membership in this organization has not yet materialized.
“We have announced our claim and desire to join BRICS, but we have not been admitted to this organization. For now, they are not letting us into this organization,” he said.
Khalid Karimli believes that the vast economic potential of SCO countries could create new opportunities for Azerbaijan, as these members account for 40 percent of the world's population and nearly 30 percent of global GDP. He added that while expanding cooperation with China, India, Russia, and Central Asian nations could positively influence economic growth in Azerbaijan, whether these opportunities will translate into real economic results remains an open question.
The Shanghai Cooperation Organization, established in 2001, serves as a Eurasian political, economic, and security alliance. Its growing influence in global trade and regional security makes it a focal point for many nations seeking to diversify their economic partnerships beyond traditional Western markets.
