Cambodia’s visit to Baku reveals an unusual diplomatic opening. Azerbaijan wants to turn political goodwill into trade, investment and a place in Asia’s wider networks.
Day: October 13, 2026
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says Russia launched a strike on a power plant in Kharkiv shortly after U.S. President Donald Trump announced an immediate energy ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine.
Zelenskyy said the attack showed that Russia was not observing the ceasefire announcement and called for continued U.S. pressure on Moscow to support the agreement.
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The International Monetary Fund (IMF) projects that Azerbaijan’s GDP will grow by 1.7% in 2026 and 2.3% in 2027.
According to Report, citing the IMF’s October outlook, the Fund has lowered its GDP growth forecasts for Azerbaijan by 0.5 percentage points for 2026 and 0.2 percentage points for 2027 compared with its May projections.
Based on the updated estimates, Azerbaijan’s economy is expected to grow by an average of 2% annually over the next two years.
The IMF now forecasts average annual inflation in Azerbaijan at 5.8% in 2026 and 5.6% in 2027. By comparison, its spring projections had put inflation at 6% in 2026 and 4.2% in 2027.
The Fund’s experts also assessed labor market trends, projecting that Azerbaijan’s unemployment rate will remain at 5.3% in 2026, unchanged from 2025, before easing to 5.2% in 2027.
Azerbaijan’s Ministry of Economy expects GDP growth of 1.7% this year and 2.7% next year. Meanwhile, the Central Bank of Azerbaijan (CBA) forecasts economic growth of 0.5% in 2026 and 2.6% in 2027.
According to the Ministry of Economy, average annual inflation will stand at 5.7% in 2026 and 5.3% in 2027. The CBA’s July forecast, meanwhile, projected inflation of 6.1% in 2026 and 5.8% in 2027.
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