Albania and Azerbaijan have built a strong partnership

Caspian Energy (CE): Your Excellency, Albania and Azerbaijan have seen a significant strengthening of ties in recent years. Looking ahead, what do you identify as the most promising pillars for further consolidating this partnership beyond the energy sector?

Bajram Begaj, President of Albania: Albania and Azerbaijan have built a strong partnership based on successful energy cooperation, excellent political dialogue, and mutual respect. The opening of embassies in Tirana and Baku, together with the visa-free travel agreement, has created new opportunities to expand business, tourism, cultural exchanges, and people-to-people ties.

While energy remains the cornerstone of our relationship, there is significant potential to deepen cooperation in transport, trade, tourism, agriculture, digital innovation, and education. Albania's strategic position on the Adriatic and Azerbaijan's role as a gateway to the Caspian region and Central Asia create natural opportunities to strengthen east-west connectivity through projects such as the Port of Porto Romano, Corridor VIII, and the Middle Corridor.

Expanding joint investment in renewable energy, logistics, agribusiness, tourism, and technology—and strengthening partnerships between businesses and universities—will help transform our relationship into a broader partnership driven by connectivity, innovation, and sustainable growth.