Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation in the field of agriculture was signed between Azerbaijan and Somalia

Minister of Agriculture of the Republic of Azerbaijan Majnun Mammadov met with a delegation led by Minister of Agriculture and Irrigation of the Federal Republic of Somalia Mohamed Abdi Hayir.

Welcoming the guests, Minister of Agriculture of the Republic of Azerbaijan Majnun Mammadov provided detailed information to the meeting participants on state support for the agrarian sector in the country. It was noted that as a result of the high attention paid by the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Mr. Ilham Aliyev to the non-oil sector in recent years, the agrarian sector has entered a new stage of development. The implemented agrarian reforms target the development of agriculture and for this purpose, the state is implementing extensive support measures.

Minister Majnun Mammadov noted that President Ilham Aliyev attaches special importance to strengthening cooperation in various sectors of the economy with African countries, including Somalia. The Minister emphasized that agriculture is one of the most promising areas for future cooperation. He noted that there is great potential for increasing trade turnover of agricultural products between the two countries. In this regard, establishing direct contacts between business entities of both countries and exchanging information on products with high export potential is of great importance.

The Minister invited the Somali side to actively participate in the 2026 exhibition of the largest agricultural exhibition in the Caucasus, Caspian Agro, and to be represented with a national pavilion. During the meeting, it was emphasized that Azerbaijan is ready to share the latest technologies and experiences applied in the agricultural sector with the Somali side. At the same time, students from Somalia were invited to study at the Azerbaijan State Agrarian University under scholarship programs.

In turn, the Minister of Agriculture and Irrigation of the Federal Republic of Somalia, Mohamed Abdi Hayir, expressed his country's interest in developing partnership with Azerbaijan in all areas. The Minister emphasized the existence of a wide potential for cooperation in the agricultural sector. The parties expressed their mutual interest in deepening agricultural cooperation.

During the bilateral meeting, a Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation in the agricultural sector was signed between Azerbaijan and Somalia. The document was signed by the Minister of Agriculture of Azerbaijan, Majnun Mammadov, and the Minister of Agriculture and Irrigation of Somalia, Mohamed Abdi Hayir.

The Memorandum of Understanding reflects the directions of future cooperation in the agricultural sector. According to the document, the parties agreed to establish a joint Working Group on agriculture, implement joint investment projects in priority areas of mutual interest in the agricultural sector, effectively use agricultural lands, exchange information on agricultural products with export potential in order to increase trade turnover, digitalization in agriculture, sharing experience in the field of agricultural insurance, development and exchange of advanced practices in irrigation water management, exchange of scientific and technological innovations in agriculture, organization of trainings and seminars in the agricultural sector, agricultural research, development of agricultural infrastructure, organization of trade missions, and expansion of cooperation in the fields of promoting the involvement of the private sector in business events.

During the meeting, a wide exchange of views was held on issues of mutual interest.