Masroor highlighted Aras’s strong performance, noting that in the first half of the year the zone ranked first among economic indicators and achieved all of its designated targets. “These successes should not lead to complacency,” he said. “Past shortcomings must be addressed.”
He identified closer cooperation with Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia as a strategic priority, arguing that Georgia could serve a role in the north similar to Oman’s in the south. Accelerating free trade with these neighbours, he added, was essential for regional integration and growth.
Addressing concerns raised by local business leaders, Masroor confirmed that measures to increase passenger goods in bags had been considered and coordinated. He also emphasised the need to strengthen banking support in Aras, calling for the designation of one or two banks to provide targeted assistance to investors and entrepreneurs.