This week, Minister for Agriculture Armands Krauze is on an official visit to Azerbaijan as the co-chair of the Latvia–Azerbaijan Intergovernmental Commission from the Latvian side. During the visit, he is discussing with Azerbaijani officials issues related to expanding economic cooperation, including agriculture, food production, forestry, and the wood industry, as well as science, technology, and culture.
On Wednesday, April 15th, at the meeting of the Latvia–Azerbaijan Intergovernmental Commission, Armands Krauze and Azerbaijan’s Minister of Agriculture Majnun Mammadov signed the protocol of the Commission’s 9th meeting. It will give stronger momentum to cooperation between the two countries in trade, agriculture and forestry, science, education and research, transport and logistics, culture, health care, environmental protection, and other areas.
Minister for Agriculture Armands Krauze: “Latvia and Azerbaijan will continue to purposefully deepen cooperation in bilateral trade and investment, education and science, tourism and technology. As Minister for Agriculture, I see significant potential for further cooperation in agriculture, food and forestry, which are important sectors in the economic relations between the two countries. Cooperation in food safety, veterinary and phytosanitary standards, as well as certification, has already delivered concrete results and strengthened mutual trust – the recognition of Latvia’s food safety control system in Azerbaijan provides a stable basis for the further development of trade. We must also develop cooperation in forestry, especially in the restoration of Azerbaijan’s forests. JSC “Latvijas valsts meži” offers high-quality forest seedlings and forest restoration technologies, and has already invited Azerbaijani experts to visit Latvia, offering an opportunity to learn about Latvia’s practice in sustainable forest management. I invite Latvian entrepreneurs to strengthen themselves and Latvia’s economy by increasing exports to Azerbaijan – export opportunities to this country are good, ranging from cattle and canned fish to forest seedlings and the practical implementation of the latest technologies.”
During the first half of the week in Baku, the Minister for Agriculture met with Azerbaijan’s Minister of Agriculture Majnun Mammadov and Minister of Economy Mikayil Jabbarov, as well as with the management of the Food Safety Agency and heads and experts of other government institutions, to discuss issues relevant to economic and other forms of cooperation between the two countries.
The trade balance between Latvia and Azerbaijan is positive – Latvia exports more to Azerbaijan than it imports from it. In 2025, the value of Latvian exports of goods to Azerbaijan was 21 million euros, while imports amounted to EUR 7 million euros. Food products, agricultural animals, and livestock products account for more than half of Latvia’s exports to Azerbaijan – 55%.