During the Parliamentary Forum on Sustainable Development of Landlocked Countries, Sahiba Gafarova, a member of the National Assembly of Azerbaijan, delivered a keynote speech. She thanked the forum organisers for their warm welcome and noted the importance of parliamentary participation in the implementation of global development programmes, according to IIC.

Sahiba Gafarova emphasised that parliaments have broad legislative, budgetary and control instruments that enable them to translate international commitments into concrete national actions. She also highlighted the role of parliaments as a link between the state and society, capable of conveying civil society initiatives and proposals to the authorities.

In her speech, the deputy paid special attention to interparliamentary cooperation, emphasizing that it facilitates the exchange of experience and the unification of efforts at the international level to address common challenges.

The delegate shared the experience of Azerbaijan, a landlocked country that has managed to turn its geographical limitations into a competitive advantage. In recent years, Azerbaijan has invested billions of dollars in the development of transport infrastructure, including international trade corridors, seaports, motorways and railway lines. Key projects include the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway, which has become an important part of the Trans-Caspian Middle Corridor, and the ‘Digital Silk Road initiative’, aimed at developing digital infrastructure and ensuring cybersecurity.

Concluding her speech, the deputy stressed the need to strengthen international support for landlocked countries in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals and implementing the 2030 Agenda.