The 12th Meeting of the Türkiye–Azerbaijan Interministerial Joint Standing Committee was held at the Ministry of Labour and Social Security.

Minister of Labour and Social Security Prof. Dr. Vedat Işıkhan hosted Minister of Labour and Social Protection of the Population of Azerbaijan Anar Aliyev in Türkiye within the framework of the 12th Meeting of the Joint Standing Committee between the two Ministries and the Signing Ceremony of the 2026–2027 Action Plan

Our relations have reached the level of alliance.

A program was held at the Ministry’s Reşat Moralı Meeting Hall within the framework of the 12th Meeting of the Joint Standing Committee and the Signing Ceremony of the 2026–2027 Action Plan. Minister of Labor and Social Security Prof. Dr. Vedat Işıkhan, speaking at the signing ceremony, emphasized that he was very pleased that the bilateral relations defined as “One Nation, Two States” were developing day by day, and added that, “With the Shusha Declaration signed by our esteemed Presidents, our relations have reached the level of ‘alliance.’ As Ministries of Labor, we share a common commitment to developing our cooperation in a way that will contribute to these relations and add new dimensions to them. ‘The Joint Standing Committee,’ of which we are holding the 12th meeting today, has facilitated our joint efforts under our existing Cooperation Agreement for 23 years. While we have similar cooperation mechanisms with many countries, I can proudly state that the longest-standing and most enduring ‘Joint Standing Committee’ is this mechanism between Türkiye and Azerbaijan.”

First Bilateral Visit to Türkiye

Minister Işıkhan underlined that they had productive contacts during previous cooperation meetings, and said, "My dear brother Mr. Aliyev contributed as Deputy Minister at that time. Now, as Minister, he is making his first bilateral visit abroad to Türkiye in a manner befitting our bilateral relations. The thirty-point Action Plan for 2024-2025, agreed upon at the 11th Joint Standing Committee Meeting held in Baku, has been almost entirely completed. This demonstrates how efficiently our concrete cooperation is progressing.”

Protocol Will Deepen The Cooperation

Minister Işıkhan stated that the 12th Joint Standing Committee Meeting would contribute to the deepening of existing cooperation.  Işıkhan further stated, “With the Meeting Protocol and the annexed Action Plan that we will sign with my esteemed brother, the cooperation between our Ministries in the coming period will become more tangible in key areas such as labour, employment services, social security, occupational health and safety, and guidance and inspection.”

Mutual Investment and Employment Are Being Expanded

Minister Işıkhan stated that mutual investments have reached approximately 38 billion USD and added, “We are also expanding qualified employment opportunities for our citizens. Strengthening close relations between our Ministries is of great importance, and we act together on many international platforms. In this context, I would like to express we consider the establishment of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation Working Center in Baku to be highly insignificant. In October, we held the ‘Working Life and Social Protection Conference in Turkic States’ in Ankara. We are very pleased that Azerbaijan will host the forthcoming meeting of Labour Ministers of the Organisation of Turkic States in December, continuing this cooperation.”

Special Invitation to the OECD Skills Summit

Minister Işıkhan stated, “Furthermore, I am honoured to announce that Azerbaijan will participate in the ‘OECD Skills Summit’, which we will hold in Istanbul on 27–28 April 2026 in cooperation with the OECD as our special guest. As in every field, I find the sharing of our experience and expertise in the areas of work, employment, and social security to be very valuable.”

Emphasizing that the Action Plan prepared by the technical teams within the scope of the protocol will contribute to further deepening cooperation by including tangible efforts, Işıkhan wished that the protocol would be fruitful and added the following: “As ministers, we will also closely monitor the implementation of the efforts. I would like to thank our Azerbaijani counterparts and technical teams for smoothly carrying out these processes. I hope the protocol we are about to sign will be beneficial.”

Following their speeches, Minister of Labour and Social Security Prof. Dr. Vedat Işıkhan and Minister of Labour and Social Protection of the Population of Azerbaijan Anar Aliyev signed the 12th Joint Standing Committee Meeting and the 2026–2027 Action Plan.