AFchamber Organized the Event: “Presentation of the Policy Brief on the Middle Corridor and Alat Free Zone”
On 20 June 2025, the Azerbaijan-France Chamber of Commerce and Industry (AFchamber) organized an event titled “Presentation of the Policy Brief on the Middle Corridor and Alat Free Zone.”
The event brought together distinguished guests, including Madame Ambassador Leyla Abdullayeva, Ambassador of Azerbaijan to France, representatives from the French and Polish Embassies, European Union Delegation, Austrian, British, and German Chambers of Commerce, OECD, AFchamber Board Members, members of AFchamber Working Committees and the representatives of both member and non-member companies.
The primary objective of the event was to present the Policy Brief on the Middle Corridor – a vital transport and economic route linking China and Central Asia with Europe through the Caspian Sea, Azerbaijan, Georgia, and Türkiye.
The event opened with welcoming remarks and speeches by Madame Ambassador Leyla Abdullayeva, Ms. Teyba Guliyeva, Chair of the AFchamber Management Board, Regional Director at Societe Generale, and Mr. Zakir Soltanov, Managing Director of AFchamber. Due to an official visit to the Lachin region of Azerbaijan, Madame Ambassador Anne Boillon, Ambassador of France to Azerbaijan, delivered her address via video message, emphasizing the importance of the Policy Brief.
The first session featured a panel discussion moderated by Ms. Arzu Hajiyeva, Tax and Legal Partner at EY Azerbaijan. The panel included chairs and deputy chairs of AFchamber’s Working Committees – Ms. Tarana Gurbanova, Chair of the Human Capital and Education Committee, Ms. Madina Mammadova, Chair of the ESG Committee, Ms. Shabnam Sadig, Chair of the Regulatory and Legal Affairs Committee, Ms. Nigar Gaziyeva, Deputy Chair of the Trade and Support Committee.
The second session included a hybrid-format presentation by guest speaker Ms. Céleste Laporte-Talamon, Policy Analyst for Central Asia at the Eurasia Division, Global Relations and Co-operation Directorate of the OECD, focusing on the organization’s work related to the Trans-Caspian Transport Corridor. This was followed by the official presentation of the Policy Brief by Mr. Zakir Soltanov.
The event continued with an interactive networking session.
📄 Download the full Policy Brief here:
Policy Brief – Middle Corridor and Alat Free Zone