On June 1, President Ilham Aliyev attended the official opening ceremony of the 31st International Caspian Oil and Gas Exhibition, the 14th Caspian International Power and Green Energy Exhibition (Caspian Power), and the 31st Baku Energy Forum at the Baku Expo Center.
Operative Information Center-OMM reports that Thomas Hord, Advisor to the Board of Directors of the UK's "ICA Events," opened the ceremony. He welcomed President Ilham Aliyev and highlighted the significance of the event, noting the 30th anniversary of the "Shah Deniz" project and the enduring impact of the "Contract of the Century," initiated by National Leader Heydar Aliyev in 1994, which established Azerbaijan as a reliable global energy partner.
In his address, President Ilham Aliyev emphasized the evolution of the Baku Energy Week, which has become a premier global platform for energy dialogue. The President highlighted the importance of Azerbaijan's pragmatic energy policy and expressed gratitude for the letters received from US President Donald Trump, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
President Ilham Aliyev stated, "I am very grateful to US President Donald Trump for his kind letter. We are also thankful to Turkish President Erdogan and UK Prime Minister Starmer for their messages." The President noted that US President Donald Trump's policy has helped restore a pragmatic approach to the global energy sector, moving away from the unfair stigmatization of oil and gas producers.
The President detailed Azerbaijan's transformation since the 1990s, noting that the country has successfully utilized its natural resources to build a strong economy, reduce poverty to 5%, and maintain a low external debt. He emphasized that Azerbaijan's energy strategy, including the Southern Gas Corridor, has been crucial for European energy security, with Azerbaijani gas now supplied to 16 countries, including 10 EU member states.
President Ilham Aliyev also outlined the country's commitment to green energy, noting that by 2032, Azerbaijan aims to reach 8 gigawatts of wind and solar energy capacity. He mentioned the "Black Sea Energy Cable" project and the Zangazur Corridor as vital infrastructure developments for regional connectivity.
Following the President's speech, Caleb Orr, US Assistant Secretary of State for Energy Resources, read a letter from US President Donald Trump, which praised Azerbaijan's leadership in energy security and the progress made toward long-term peace with Armenia, noting that regional energy integration is a key pillar of the peace summit held on August 8 at the White House.
Turkish Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Alparslan Bayraktar read a letter from President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, highlighting the strategic partnership between Azerbaijan and Turkey in projects like Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan, TANAP, and the Igdir-Nakhchivan gas pipeline.
UK Trade Commissioner for Eastern Europe and Central Asia David Reed read a letter from Prime Minister Keir Starmer, commending Azerbaijan's role in strengthening energy resilience and its commitment to the net-zero transition.
The event also featured speeches by Kristina Lobilla Borrero of the European Commission, Haitham Al Ghais (represented by Philip Mshelbila) of the Gas Exporting Countries Forum, and Francesco La Camera, Director-General of IRENA, who praised Azerbaijan's leadership in renewable energy.
The ceremony concluded with the signing of several cooperation agreements, including a gas purchase agreement for the Absheron field, a memorandum on the Nish gas-turbine power plant project in Serbia, and a framework for the supply of critical minerals between Azerbaijan and the United States.
The Baku Energy Week, running until June 3, brings together 276 companies from 46 countries, marking a record in the exhibition's history.
