President Iliana Yotova visited an industrial facility near Baku that was fully financed by Bulgarian investment, as part of a broader visit to Azerbaijan focused on economic cooperation and urban development initiatives.

The plant is located in the Sumgait industrial free economic zone, around 25 kilometers from the Azerbaijani capital, and specializes in processing used industrial and motor oils while producing base oils of the first and second groups. According to official information, it is the only industrial project implemented following approval by Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev during his 2023 visit to Bulgaria, and represents the first investment of its scale in this sector in Azerbaijan.

The facility is currently in the pre-commissioning phase. It was developed by a Bulgarian company active in ecological construction, design, and project management. Azerbaijani authorities have designated the project as strategic and described it as high-tech, noting that it aligns with goals outlined at the UN Climate Conference held in Baku in 2024.

Yotova is in Baku to take part in a high-level summit held within the framework of the 13th session of the UN World Urban Forum, an international platform created in 2001 to address challenges linked to rapid urbanization, including its impact on cities, economies, climate policy, and social development. The forum is held every two years in different host countries and is widely regarded as a key global event in urban development.

For the first time, Azerbaijan is hosting a summit with the participation of heads of state and government alongside the forum sessions.

The Bulgarian delegation includes Veliko Tarnovo Mayor and National Association of Municipalities Board Chair Daniel Panov, along with other representatives of local authorities from across the country. The wider forum will continue until May 22.

During the visit, Yotova also held talks with President Ilham Aliyev, focusing on opportunities to expand bilateral cooperation between Bulgaria and Azerbaijan, particularly in the energy sector.