Azerbaijan–India relations

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Azerbaijan-India relations
Map indicating locations of India and Azerbaijan

India

Azerbaijan

Azerbaijan-Indian relations are the bilateral ties between India and Azerbaijan.

History[edit]

Indian merchants and pilgrims were active in modern-day Baku and merchants from Multan, Punjab controlled much of the economy. Indian were probably responsible for the construction of fire temple called Ateshgah at the end of 17th century.[1][2]

Economic relations[edit]

India's bilateral trade with Azerbaijan has been growing steadily in recent years. India has a well-established pharmaceutical industry in Azerbaijan and many Indian pharmaceutical companies operate out of Azerbaijan. Some items of direct and indirect imports from India include clothes and textiles, information technologies, food items and heavy machinery, electronic cards, steam boilers and other plant equipment.[3][4][5][6]

The volume of trade has increased from 50 million dollars (2005) to 250 million (2015). India's main import from Azerbaijan is crude oil.[6]

Energy Cooperation[edit]

India and Azerbaijan have pledged to explore future prospects in the renewable energy sector, energy efficiency and various upcoming projects in oil and gas and pipelines. Indian company GAIL has also signed a memorandum of understanding with the Azerbaijani firm SOCAR to explore business opportunities in petrochemical projects.[7][8]

Gazvin-Rasht-Astara railway route[edit]

Both sides play a role in constructing the Gazvin-Rasht-Astara (Iran)-Astara (Azerbaijan) railway route as part of the International North–South Transport Corridor. Initially, it is proposed to transport about six million metric tonnes each year and more in the future through this route. It is projected to improve trade relations between Iran and Azerbaijan and at a further stage other countries including India and Russia may also benefit.[9]

Cultural relations[edit]

Cultural ties between Azerbaijan and India are close. The eminent Persian poet Nizami Ganjavi was well known from the times of Amir Khusrau, one of the famous poet and music composer in 1800s. Some other important names are Rashid Behbudov, a famous singer who was also the friend of the Indian actor Raj Kapoor. Azeri artist Rashid Behbudov also promoted Azeri music and art in both countries. Elmira Rahimova, an Azeri singer, also studied Indian dance and music while staying in India.

Hindu temples can be found in Baku.

Diplomatic relations[edit]

Former President of India Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan and Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru visited Baku during the Soviet era. India recognized Azerbaijan's independence in 1991. India's Permanent Mission in Baku was opened in 1999 and Azerbaijan's representative center was opened in New-Delhi in 2004.[6] The first bilateral agreement was signed in June 1998. The agreement was the "Economic and Technical Cooperation Treaty" which led to establishment of the Indian-Azerbaijani intergovernmental commission of trade. Other treaties include:[10][6]

  • Economic, Scientific and Technological Cooperation (April 2007)
  • Agreement on Air Communication Between the Government of the Azerbaijan and the Government of India (April 2013)
  • Agreement on Legal and Judicial Assistance to Civil and Commercial Affairs Between the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Republic of India
  • Treaty on Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters
  • Treaty on Deliveries between the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Republic of India
  • Protocol on Cooperation Between the Ministries of Foreign Affairs
  • Protocol on the Ratification of the Treaty on Legal and Judicial Assistance for Civil and Commercial Affairs[6][10]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. Scott Cameron Levi (2002), The Indian diaspora in Central Asia and its trade, 1550-1900, BRILL, ISBN 90-04-12320-2, ... George Forster ... On the 31st of March, I visited the Atashghah, or place of fire; and on making myself known to the Hindoo mendicants, who resided there, I was received among these sons of Brihma as a brother; an appellation they used on perceiving that I had acquired some knowledge of their mythology, and had visited their most sacred places of worship ...
  2. George Forster (1798), A journey from Bengal to England: through the northern part of India, Kashmire, Afghanistan, and Persia, and into Russia, by the Caspian-Sea, R. Faulder, ... A society of Moultan Hindoos, which has long been established in Baku, contributes largely to the circulation of its commerce; and with the Armenians they may be accounted the principal merchants of Shirwan ... this remark arose from a view of the Atashghah at Baku, where a Hindoo is found so deeply tinctured with the enthusiasm of religion, that though his nerves be constitutionally of a tender texture and his frame relaxed by age, he will journey through hostile regions from the Ganges to the Volga, to offer up prayer at the shrine of his God ...
  3. "India, Azerbaijan to explore opportunities in energy sector". The Hindu Business Line. Retrieved 2015-11-20.
  4. "Department of Commerce, Government of India". commerce.nic.in. Archived from the original on 2016-01-09. Retrieved 2015-11-20.
  5. "Azerbaijan interested in developing partnership with India". AzerNews. Retrieved 2015-11-23.
  6. 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 "Hindistan-Azərbaycan: əlaqələrin hazırkı vəziyyəti və inkişaf perspektivləri | Newtimes.az – Analitik-informasiya portalı". newtimes.az. Archived from the original on 2019-10-14. Retrieved 2019-05-30.
  7. "Azerbaijan keen to meet India's energy needs: Envoy". Retrieved 2015-11-20.
  8. "Iran's crude oil swap supplies to India may flow via Baku, Russia's Astrakhan". TASS. Retrieved 2015-11-23.
  9. "Iran interested in rapid construction of Qazvin-Rasht-Astara railway". AzerNews. Retrieved 2015-11-25.
  10. 10.0 10.1 "BILATERAL BRIEF India-Azerbaijan Relations" (PDF).

Template:Foreign relations of Azerbaijan