Azerbaijan-India relations

Azerbaijan-India relations

Azerbaijan	India

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

History

The Azerbaijani-Indian relations are old and mature. Many big personalities including Dr. S. Radhakrishnan, former Prime Minister J L Nehru have visited Baku in the past. Eminent Azeri artist R. 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. From the times of the Silk route which connected Azerbaijan with India there are many evidences which support the past ties. Some Hindu temples as symbol of the old connections are also found in Baku. Historical interactions are still remembered by the people in Azerbaijan.

Economic relations

India’s bilateral trade with Azerbaijan has been growing steadily in recent years. India’s pharmaceutical sector is established in Azerbaijan and many Indian pharmaceutical companies are there in Azerbaijan. Some of items of direct and indirect imports from India are clothes and textiles, information technologies, food items and heavy machinery.^[1][2][3]

Energy Cooperation

India and Azerbaijan have signed to explore future prospects in renewable energy sector, energy efficiency and various upcoming projects in oil and gas and pipelines, etc. India company GAIL has also signed an MoU with the Azerbaijan firm SOCAR have signed MoUs to explore business opportunities in petrochemical projects.^[4][5]

Gazvin-Rasht-Astara railway route

Both side are constructing Gazvin-Rasht-Astara (Iran)-Astara (Azerbaijan) railway route as part of the North-South Transport Corridor. Initially, it is proposed to transport about 6 million metric tons each year and more in the future through this route. It is going to improve trade relations between Iran and Azerbaijan and at further stage many other countries including India and Russia will be benefited with this network. In future it will also become part of the International North–South Transport Corridor.^[6]

Cultural relations

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 friend of the Indian actor Raj Kapoor. Across much of the non-Arab Muslim world, people of both nations celebrate Norouz, the festival that marks the arrival of spring and the beginning of the new year.^[7]

References

1. "India, Azerbaijan to explore opportunities in energy sector". The Hindu Business Line. Retrieved 2015-11-20.
2. "Department of Commerce, Government of India". commerce.nic.in. Retrieved 2015-11-20.
3. "Azerbaijan interested in developing partnership with India". AzerNews. Retrieved 2015-11-23.
4. "Azerbaijan keen to meet India's energy needs: Envoy". Retrieved 2015-11-20.
5. "Iran’s crude oil swap supplies to India may flow via Baku, Russia's Astrakhan". TASS. Retrieved 2015-11-23.
6. "Iran interested in rapid construction of Qazvin-Rasht-Astara railway". AzerNews. Retrieved 2015-11-25.
7. Pannier, Abbas Djavadi and Bruce (2009-03-20). "From Azerbaijan To India, Spring Festival Norouz Begins". RadioFreeEurope/RadioLiberty. Retrieved 2015-11-20.