Minister Fajon in Baku to strengthen political and economic cooperation

Minister Fajon paid her first official visit to Azerbaijan as the 30th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries approaches (February 2026). "They maintain a positive and regular political dialogue, which continues to develop. The consistency and constructiveness of bilateral cooperation not only strengthens mutual understanding, but also provides a solid foundation for expanding cooperation in many areas," Minister Fajon said during the discussion with President Aliyev and Foreign Minister Bayramov.

The recent signing of the Memorandum of Cooperation in the field of energy (4 April 2025) between the Slovenian Minister of the Environment, Climate and Energy, Bojan Kumer, and the Azerbaijani Minister of Energy, Parviz Shahbazov, opened up new opportunities in the field of natural gas supply between the companies Geoplin and SOCAR, as well as in the field of renewable energy sources. "Slovenia has an open and export-oriented economy, with a wide range of industries, from pharmaceuticals to information and automotive industries. During my visit to Baku, I was accompanied by representatives of established Slovenian companies from various fields, such as information and telecommunications technology, production of unmanned vessels, maritime automation systems, construction and production of metal structures. I believe that with this visit, we have further strengthened the ties between our two countries, which will yield many new opportunities for both Slovenian and Azerbaijani companies," said Minister Fajon. Azerbaijan is Slovenia’s important trading partner in the region. In 2024, the volume of trade between the two countries increased by 57 per cent, amounting to 37.7 million euros.

Ministers Fajon and Bayramov addressed the participants of the Slovenia-Azerbaijan Business Forum, organised by SPIRIT Slovenia in cooperation with the Azerbaijan Export and Investment Promotion Agency (AZPROMO). Participants (companies from both sides) discussed ways to strengthen business cooperation and networking and took part in B2B meetings. "Although Slovenia and Azerbaijan are not direct neighbours, the distance does not diminish our focus on the opportunities and potential that Azerbaijan offers Slovenia, and vice versa. This highlights the importance of strong international partnerships and economic cooperation that bring our respective countries closer together," stressed Minister Fajon.

She also took part in the first meeting of the Slovenian-Azerbaijani working group, which was organised by the Slovenian Ministry of the Economy, Tourism and Sport and represented in Baku by Secretary General Dr Mitja Blaganje. The launch of this group could bring good prospects for the future growth of cooperation in various sectors.

Following the talks in Armenia, Minister Fajon also expressed her support for the ratification of the draft peace agreement between the two South Caucasus countries in Azerbaijan, and went on to stress the importance of maintaining dialogue: "We are closely following the negotiations and agreements between Azerbaijan and Armenia, also due to Slovenia’s historical memory and the regional conflicts we have witnessed in our immediate vicinity. We know that the road to reconciliation is a long one. Nevertheless, I believe that Azerbaijan and Armenia have taken a big step towards a lasting peace. I encourage both sides to sign the agreement as soon as possible." She added that this was necessary in the current geopolitical situation and that it would also bring additional opportunities for integration in Central Asia and with Europe, as well as an opportunity for expanding economic integration.

Minister Fajon laid flowers at the Alley of Martyrs to pay tribute to the fallen Azerbaijanis and to the Azerbaijani warrior Mikhailo, who is also known in Slovenia.