Georgia and Azerbaijan have agreed to extend their gas purchase and sale agreement for another 20 years, following a meeting between Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev in Baku.
The Georgian Government Administration says the meeting focused on the strategic partnership between the two countries and prospects for further deepening bilateral cooperation across various sectors.
The sides highlighted the positive dynamics of trade and economic relations and emphasized the role of the Intergovernmental Commission for Economic Cooperation in advancing bilateral ties. The Georgian side also expressed readiness to host the commission’s next session in the near future.
Kobakhidze and Aliyev discussed global and regional geopolitical challenges, underlining the importance of peace for the sustainable and stable development of the region.
The leaders also reviewed joint regional projects and their role in strengthening connectivity between the two countries and beyond.
Following the meeting, Georgia and Azerbaijan signed a package of agreements in the energy and transport sectors. The package includes a 20-year intergovernmental agreement on electricity supply and transit between the two countries, as well as a 20-year extension of the 2003 agreement on the purchase and sale of natural gas from Azerbaijan, which includes guarantees for the security of social gas supplies.
The documents were signed by Georgia’s Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development, Mariam Kvrivishvili, Azerbaijani Economy Minister Mikail Jabbarov, and Energy Minister Parviz Shahbazov.
The two sides also signed a protocol of the bilateral coordination council, under which the new section of the Baku–Tbilisi–Kars railway will enter full operation. The document was signed by Kvrivishvili and Azerbaijan’s Minister of Digital Development and Transport, Rashad Nabiyev.
In addition, the parties agreed to restore daily passenger rail service between Tbilisi and Baku from May 26, after a six-year suspension.
The signing ceremony was attended by Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze and President Ilham Aliyev.
