BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 13. Baku hosted the opening ceremony of the 18th Azerbaijan International Agricultural Exhibition, Caspian Agro, the largest in the Caspian region, Trend reports.
The opening ceremony was attended by Minister of Agriculture Majnun Mammadov, Chairman of the Food Safety Agency of Azerbaijan Goshgar Tahmazli, Chairman of the Small and Medium Business Development Agency (KOBIA) Orkhan Mammadov, President of the National Confederation of Entrepreneurs (Employers) Organizations Mammad Musayev, and other officials.
The 2nd Azerbaijan Innovation Forum and panel discussions on various areas of the agricultural sector are planned to be held within the framework of the international exhibition, which will be held on May 13-16.
In total, 450 companies from 31 countries are participating in the exhibition.
President of the Confederation of Entrepreneurs of Azerbaijan Mammad Musayev stated that only from January through March 2025 Azerbaijani entrepreneurs exported abroad fruits and vegetables worth $153.3 million.
He noted that the development of the agrarian sphere in Azerbaijan is important both in terms of the employment of the population and food security of our country:
“Under the leadership of President Ilham Aliyev, hundreds of modern agricultural parks, processing enterprises, and new productions have been created in the country. The share of domestic products in meeting domestic demand has increased. Azerbaijani entrepreneurs exported fruits and vegetables worth $153.3 million abroad only from January through March 2025. The volume of sales of fruit and vegetable processing products abroad amounted to 8.7 million manat ($5.1 million). Alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages worth about 14 million manat ($8.2 million) and cotton fiber worth 40 million manat ($23.5 million) were exported," he noted.
“I am confident that Caspian Agro and Interfood Azerbaycan this year will also become a useful platform for food industry specialists, rich in innovations and export opportunities. Introduction of new technologies in this sphere will raise the opportunities for establishing cooperation, exchange of experience with foreign specialists to a higher level,” Musayev added.
The Executive Director of AZPROMO, Yusif Abdullayev, said that AZPROMO plans to ensure the participation of entrepreneurs in 2025 with a single country stand at the exhibitions WorldFood Moscow 2025, Anuga in Cologne, and the 8th China International Import Expo in Shanghai.
He noted that with the support of the Agency, Azerbaijani companies regularly successfully participate in global and local exhibitions, our local products are presented at the stands of a single country under the brand “Made in Azerbaijan”, export contracts are signed, and products are introduced to new markets:
“In 2024, with the support of AZPROMO, our exporters participated in a total of 10 international exhibitions, including the 47th Baghdad International Fair, Greenweek and Prowein in Germany, Prodexpo and Russia Halal Expo 2024 in Russia, Gulfood in the United Arab Emirates, FOODEX in Japan, as well as Macfrut in Rimini, Italy, Saudi Food Show 2024 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, and the 7th China International Import Expo in Shanghai.”
“This year, we continue to support our exporters and continue to actively participate in the shows. Currently, with our support, our companies are participating in the Saudi Food Expo 2025 in Riyadh with a unified country stand, and from tomorrow, our exporters will participate in the Russia-Halal Expo 2025 in Kazan. At today's InterFood exhibition at the Made in Azerbaijan AZPROMO stand, 8 companies working in the production of natural honey, fruits and vegetables, dried fruits, alcoholic beverages, wine, and dairy products are presented,” Abdullayev said.
“In addition, I would like to note that in 2025 we plan to ensure the participation of entrepreneurs with a single domestic stand at international import exhibitions” WorldFood Moscow 2025“,” Anuga " in Cologne, and the 8th China International Import Expo in Shanghai. And at local exhibitions, we plan to participate in the 5th “Rebuild Karabaлh”, which will be held in October," Y. Abdullayev said.
Chairman of the Food Security Agency of the Republic of Azerbaijan Goshgar Tahmazli noted that the Law of the Republic of Azerbaijan “On Food Security” was adopted in order to form the legal basis of the food security system in accordance with international practice, and 15 rules were approved based on the implementation of this law, and 79 normative legal acts were amended within the framework of adaptation.
He noted that 24 technical normative legal acts were adopted by the decision of the Board of the Agency in the past period to harmonize sanitary norms and rules with international standards in the field of food security, veterinary, and phytosanitary:
The Draft Law of the Republic of Azerbaijan “On Plant Health” has been prepared and sent to the relevant state bodies for comment, and is currently undergoing a broad public discussion with the participation of stakeholders. At the same time, the Draft Law of the Republic of Azerbaijan “On Animal Health” has been prepared to harmonize the existing legislation in the field of animal health protection with international requirements, taking into account the recommendations of international experts.
Tahmazli emphasized that the “Red Bridge” food safety control point established in the territory of the Gazakh district near the border checkpoint with the Republic of Georgia is equipped with all necessary equipment and has started working to promptly implement food safety control during import-export operations:
"In recent years, following progressive international practice, serious work has been carried out to confirm the sanitary status of our republic on diseases that pose a threat to human and animal health, as well as causing violations of biological safety in the environment. In this context, Azerbaijan is recognized by the World Organization for Animal Health as a country free from small-horned animal plague and highly pathogenic avian influenza in 2024, and at the same time, the status of freedom from African horse fever and African swine fever achieved in previous years is maintained.
"All these achievements, targeted measures to ensure biological safety in the country, achieving the status of free from several animal diseases existing in the world, development of international cooperation, and establishment of new ties create favorable conditions for the export potential of several food products produced in our country.
Thus, the export of eggs from the Republic of Azerbaijan to a number of countries, including the Russian Federation and the United States of America, has started," Tahmazli said.
"The continuity of authorizations for export of caviar obtained from fish of the sturgeon genus grown in aquaculture to the countries of the European Union has been ensured.
Implementation of measures in the field of food security envisaged in “I State Program on Great Return to the liberated territories of the Republic of Azerbaijan” approved by the relevant Order of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, continued successfully. “Following the requirements of the World Organization for Animal Health, epidemiological monitoring and other necessary measures have been carried out in farms belonging to the zone free of animal diseases to be established in the liberated territories,” G. Tahmazli added.
Deputy Minister of Agriculture Elchin Zeynalov said: "In recent years, large-scale reforms on the development of agriculture have been implemented in our country, state support mechanisms have been strengthened, access of farmers to technologies and financial resources has been facilitated.
The Caspian Agro and InterFood Azerbaijan exhibitions, which celebrate their anniversary this year, have for many years been important platforms for local and foreign companies to present innovative solutions and new technologies in agriculture and the food industry.
This exhibition provides an opportunity for farmers, entrepreneurs, investors, and professionals to exchange opinions on topical issues of agriculture and the food industry, establish business contacts, and familiarize themselves with modern innovations.
The opportunities have been created to familiarize our farmers with modern agricultural machinery, precision farming systems, digital management tools, and environmentally friendly production technologies," he said.
"To mitigate climate change, increase the efficient use of land and water resources and make agriculture greener and more efficient, we are adopting innovative approaches.
Introducing more digital solutions, expanding e-agriculture platforms, and increasing the availability of financial and insurance instruments for entrepreneurs working in the agricultural sector are also among the main goals in this area. We believe that the introduction in our country of new plant varieties and productive breeds in animal husbandry, the formation of farm models based on modern technologies, and the automation of production processes will have a positive impact on the development of the agricultural sector.
Important events increasing the importance of the exhibition this year are the presentation of fishery and aquaculture at the exhibition, as well as holding of the II International Forum of Agrarian Innovations. Caspian Agro Fair is an important platform for demonstrating innovative solutions and advanced technologies that will also contribute to the development of fisheries and aquaculture.
At the same time, the Forum will open new opportunities for farmers and agribusiness representatives, and create an opportunity to exchange knowledge and experience. “I hope that the exhibition will be useful for everyone working in the agricultural sector, expand their experience and business opportunities.”
