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IRENA: Azerbaijan has potential to become regional hub connecting markets between Central Asia and Europe

Director-General of the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) Francesco La Camera

07 September 2026 11:14 (UTC +04:00)

“Azerbaijan and the Central Asian countries are well positioned to take advantage of their vast renewable energy potential and strategic geographical locations through regional energy interconnectors and green energy corridors,” Director-General of the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) Francesco La Camera said during his speech at the Fourth Climate Week (CW4) conference of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), organized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, APA reports.

The IRENA Director-General said that Azerbaijan has the potential not only to develop its own renewable energy resources but also to become a regional hub connecting clean energy, infrastructure and markets between Central Asia and Europe: “IRENA’s Accelerated Partnership for Renewables in Central Asia and Africa, established in Baku within the framework of COP29, supports this ambition. The initiative is aimed at promoting investment, regional connectivity and sustainable growth.

Currently, the members of the partnership include Azerbaijan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan. Within the framework of this partnership, in June this year, during Baku Energy Week, IRENA hosted an investment forum in Zimbabwe. As a follow-up to the forum, matchmaking events for member countries are planned to be held again in Baku next March. These events will provide an opportunity to connect global energy projects more closely with investors and strengthen regional cooperation. The energy transition and the reshaping of the geography of energy show that countries are no longer defined solely by the fossil fuel reserves beneath their soil. Increasingly important factors are the ability to harness renewable energy resources, build infrastructure and connect markets.

Central Asia has significant potential to be at the heart of this transformation. Along with strengthening energy security in the region, this will create new opportunities for investment, industrial development and regional cooperation."