On December 16, Elchin Amirbayov, the Representative of the President of Azerbaijan on Special Assignments, highlighted economic cooperation as a central pillar of the relationship between Azerbaijan and the Netherlands. In an interview with The Holland Times, Amirbayov revealed that bilateral trade has seen a significant 35 percent increase during the first ten months of 2025. Despite this steady growth and expanding mutual investments, he noted that there remains considerable untapped potential to further diversify economic interaction between the two nations.

Amirbayov stated that the primary goal of his visit to the Netherlands was to build on this positive momentum and engage with Dutch counterparts on strategic plans for the upcoming year. He emphasized that energy remains a cornerstone of the partnership, bolstered by increased energy supplies from Azerbaijan. Additionally, he pointed to the active role of Dutch firms at the Port of Baku, where they are involved in seaport development, shipbuilding, and transport logistics aimed at transforming the port into a major multimodal transport hub.

Looking toward the future, Amirbayov identified agriculture and water management as high-priority areas for collaboration. He specifically highlighted Dutch expertise in sustainable farming and greenhouse technologies as vital assets for Azerbaijan. Furthermore, he noted that high-tech sectors and renewable energy—specifically wind, solar, and green hydrogen—offer promising new avenues to deepen the bilateral partnership.

Cultural and educational ties were also underscored as essential for fostering mutual understanding. Amirbayov noted that collaboration in these fields has gained significant momentum, citing the increasing number of Azerbaijani students pursuing higher education in the Netherlands as a key indicator of success. He expressed a desire to see similar growth in sports and tourism to further strengthen people-to-people contacts.

Regarding broader foreign policy, Amirbayov remarked that favorable conditions now exist to deepen Azerbaijan’s strategic interaction with both the European Union and NATO. He expressed optimism that the coming year would reflect a forward-looking development of these relations. On the topic of regional stability, he voiced hope that a peace agreement with Armenia could be signed in 2025, provided that Armenia brings its constitutional framework into compliance with the spirit of the draft agreement initialed last August.

Finally, Amirbayov addressed the critical humanitarian issue of landmines, stating that nearly 14 percent of Azerbaijan’s territory remains contaminated. Despite extensive demining efforts over the last five years, only one-fifth of the affected areas have been cleared, with 414 victims recorded since the 2020 ceasefire. While Azerbaijan currently covers 95 percent of demining costs, Amirbayov stressed that continued solidarity and financial support from the international community, including the Netherlands, remains essential for regional safety.