First Ministerial Meeting on CIGET initiative held at COP31
Antalya, November 13, AZERTAC
The first Ministerial Meeting on the Climate, Innovation, Green Economy, and Trade Partnership (CIGET) initiative of the Organization of Turkic States (OTS) was held on November 13 on the sidelines of COP31 in Antalya, Türkiye.
In his opening remarks, Turkish Minister of Trade Ömer Bolat recalled that CIGET was established during COP29 in Azerbaijan to combat climate change, promote green technologies, and boost economic cooperation.
Welcoming cooperation among Turkic states, Bolat emphasized Türkiye’s full support for integration within the OTS, noting that joint initiatives will drive progress in climate action and the green economy.
Azerbaijani Ambassador to Türkiye Rashad Aslanov noted that CIGET was founded on November 14, 2024, in Baku.
“The participating states agreed that the Turkic world must not merely respond to climate challenges, but turn them into opportunities for innovation, investment, and sustainable development. Through the Gabala Declaration adopted at the 12th OTS Summit, the Heads of State mandated the operationalization of CIGET. With the ‘Antalya Ministerial Declaration’ signed today, we are transitioning CIGET from establishment to implementation,” the Ambassador stated.
Emphasizing that the green transition requires collective action, the ambassador said: “Our region is highly susceptible to climate change, facing shared threats such as water scarcity, drought, desertification, and glacial retreat in Central Asia. For Azerbaijan, the declining water level of the Caspian Sea is a particular concern. The Aral Sea crisis and the need to protect Lake Issyk-Kul’s ecosystem further underscore the importance of regional cooperation and practical solutions.”
Aslanov added that the region holds vast renewable energy potential: “The Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (Middle Corridor) is a vital artery supporting sustainable connectivity between Asia and Europe. Alongside this, the ‘green energy corridor’ developed by Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, and Uzbekistan deepens regional clean energy cooperation.”
He emphasized that green development is a national priority for Azerbaijan: “We aim to raise the share of renewables in our installed electricity generation capacity to at least 30 percent by 2030, while our liberated territories are being developed as a ‘Green Energy Zone.’”
The meeting also featured speeches by newly appointed OTS Secretary General Mirvokhid Azimov and representatives from Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Kyrgyzstan.
The event concluded with the signing of the “Antalya Ministerial Declaration” on the CIGET initiative.
