Mr. Achim Steiner, the Administrator of the United Nations Development Programme, pays an official visit to Azerbaijan

Baku, March 15th, 2024. Mr. Achim Steiner, the Administrator of the United Nations Development Programme, paid an official visit to Azerbaijan to participate in the XI Global Baku Forum, the flagship event of the Nizami Ganjavi International Center. Mr. Steiner joined the panel discussion titled as “From Good Words to Good Deeds: What Objectives can be set for COP29” at the XI Baku Global Forum. The UNDP Administrator underscored the importance of COP and the viability of the multilateral process as the avenue towards continued climate and sustainable development action. He highlighted some of the key goals for COP29, including the New Collective Quantified Goal (NCQG), and its significance on the road to COP30 and for wider climate progress. UNDP’s expertise in the COP sphere and commitment to working with the COP29 Presidency were also stressed in the speech. 

In the frame of his official visit, Mr. Steiner met with H.E. Mr. Ilham Aliyev, the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan. The UNDP Administrator commended Mr. Aliyev for his victory in the recent presidential elections and highlighted the anticipation of a new period marked by opportunities for progress and development under his leadership. He thanked Mr. President for the work of the Government of Azerbaijan in leading sustainable development in the region and making significant progress in the last decade on economic growth, stability, and social progress.

President Ilham Aliyev briefed Achim Steiner on Azerbaijan’s development strategy until 2030, noting that the green transition is one of the priority areas for the country. The Head of State said that the renewable and green energy potential of the country exceeds 200 gigawatts, adding that Azerbaijan will have the opportunity to produce 5 megawatts of renewable energy resources in the near future. In this context, the President emphasized that Azerbaijan took the initiative to form a renewable green energy corridor linking the Caspian Sea and the Black Sea, and that cooperation with the countries of the region is underway in this regard. 

Achim Steiner pointed out that Azerbaijan's green transition transformation aligns perfectly with the concept of hosting COP29, and the country's example will be presented to the international community.

President Ilham Aliyev invited Achim Steiner to the COP29 Conference, which the latter accepted.

During the visit, a series of meetings with a specific reference to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the COP29 Presidency of Azerbaijan was held with the national authorities. The UNDP Administrator met with Mr. Jeyhun Bayramov, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Azerbaijan, productive discussions were held upon current issues.