MP: Nakhchivan becoming key hub of international transport corridors

Nakhchivan, along with the Karabakh and Eastern Zangazur economic regions, holds a special place on Azerbaijan's dynamic development map, Azerbaijani MP Kamran Bayramov told Report.

According to him, the visit of President Ilham Aliyev and First Vice President Mehriban Aliyeva to the autonomous republic is another clear indicator of Nakhchivan's growing strategic importance.

Bayramov said that despite the difficulties caused by the transport blockade over several decades, strong infrastructure, energy, industry, agriculture and social foundations have been formed in Nakhchivan thanks to the purposeful policy of National Leader Heydar Aliyev and President Ilham Aliyev.

"It is this sound economic foundation that today ensures the autonomous republic's transition to a qualitatively new stage of development," he said.

According to him, the geographical position that for many years limited the development of the autonomy is now turning into one of its main advantages.

"The prospect of restoring a direct land connection with Azerbaijan's main territory, especially the implementation of the TRIPP project, will turn Nakhchivan into an important link of the Azerbaijan-Nakhchivan-Türkiye-Europe corridor. This route provides access to the Caspian Sea and Central Asia through the main territory of the country," Bayramov said.

He noted that the autonomous republic, which directly borders Türkiye and Iran, is gaining the potential to become a unique transport hub connecting the South Caucasus simultaneously with Türkiye, Iran and Central Asia.

"Thus, Nakhchivan is gradually turning from an end point into a crossroads of international transport corridors," the MP added.

Bayramov said preparations for this new stage are already being carried out on a large scale.

"The State Program on the socio-economic development of the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic for 2023-2027 covers infrastructure, entrepreneurship, industry, agriculture, energy and tourism. Serious progress has been made, especially in the field of green energy. The autonomous republic has been declared a green energy zone, and in 2024, about 48% of the electricity produced came from renewable sources," he said.

According to the MP, the construction of solar power plants and the development of the Azerbaijan-Nakhchivan-Türkiye-Europe energy corridor are planned for the future.

He added that climate conditions, the modernization of irrigation systems and the opening of transport links will ensure easier access for agricultural and processing industry products to the markets of Azerbaijan and Türkiye.

Bayramov also emphasized that new roads and railways will reduce the transportation costs of minerals and industrial products, sharply increasing the attractiveness of the mining and industrial sectors.