Azerbaijan is working hard to coax Turkmenistan out of its shell and integrate Ashgabat into trans-Caspian trade routes.Azerbaijani leader Ilham Aliyev exchanged a variety of trade-related agreements with Turkmenistan’s titular head of state, Serdar Berdymukhamedov, during a June 22 ceremony in Baku. A joint statement issued after the ceremony highlighted an agreement to streamline “technical specifications” concerning the movement of goods and vehicles between the two countries, and another to harmonize “customs statistics of mutual trade.” Additional agreements covered cooperation in such spheres as energy, industry, agriculture, banking, and labor migration. Aliyev told journalists that Baku’s engagement with Turkmenistan is aimed at expanding the emerging Middle Corridor trade network, which is designed to increase the flow of goods from Central Asia across the Caspian Sea bound for European markets. “We agreed to carry out more in-depth coordination of our activities in the transport and logistics sector in order to increase cargo flows … [and] work on attracting goods from third countries,” Aliyev said. “Therefore, this area will naturally be one of the priorities both in our bilateral and multilateral cooperation.”Turkmenistan has a reputation as a “hermit” kingdom, featuring one of the globe’s most repressive political systems led by the paramount leader, Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov, Serdar’s father. But over the past year, Ashgabat has voiced interest in cautiously opening to the outside world to diversify its economy and expand trade beyond natural gas exports to China. The agreements signed in Baku are a tangible indicator of that desire.“A solid package of bilateral documents was signed,” Serdar Berdymukhamedov said in Baku. “This meets the long-term interests of the two countries and peoples.”The two leaders issued instructions to empower an intergovernmental commission, which is now scheduled to meet in July in Ashgabat, to implement the Baku agreements.“I am sure that the instructions that we have given today will be worked out in detail by that time, and we will reach the solution of new joint tasks and the implementation of new projects,” Aliyev said, emphasizing that Azerbaijani-Turkmen relations were “built on a solid foundation - these are historical ties, cultural ties, spiritual ties.”During the joint press conference, Aliyev dropped an intriguing hint that Azerbaijan would help develop Turkmenistan’s nascent mining sector. The country’s most important reserves of minerals are presently iodine, sulfur, and potash, according to the US Geological Survey. But Turkmen leaders have expressed interest in exploring for critical mineral deposits.“Turkmenistan and Azerbaijan are two countries with vast mineral resources, energy resources. In this case, we aim to cooperate in combining our efforts,” Aliyev said.Earlier in June, Azerbaijan signed an agreement to help Uzbekistan develop a self-standing value chain for the Central Asian nation’s critical minerals and precious metals. An Azerbaijani-based entity, NEQSOL Holding, will lead the effort to help Uzbekistan improve not just mining operations, but also the country’s capacity to process, market, and export critical minerals and precious metals.By EurasianetMore Top Reads From Oilprice.comSaudis Turn to Russian Fuel Oil as Iran War Saps Fossil Power SuppliesIndia Boosts U.S. LPG Imports to Record HighIran Moves to Tap Key Asian Markets as U.S. Waives Oil Sanctions