Baku hosts inaugural Charter of Cooperation Technical Committee Meeting
Baku, July 15, AZERTAC
The inaugural Charter of Cooperation (CoC) Technical Committee Meeting was held in Baku on Wednesday.
The meeting was hosted by Azerbaijan’s Minister of Energy Parviz Shahbazov and chaired by Haitham Al Ghais, Secretary General of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC).
Bringing together delegates from 20 oil-producing countries, the inaugural meeting of the Technical Committee established a comprehensive work plan for the CoC covering activities and programs related to market fundamentals, energy dialogue, technology, innovation, investment, policies and regulations, as well as industry standards. The plan outlines future activities, initiatives, and meetings.
The meeting built on the outcomes of the 40th OPEC and non-OPEC Ministerial Meeting held in November 2025, which approved the CoC framework and tasked the OPEC Secretariat with developing a work plan and translating it into programs to achieve the Charter's objectives.
Addressing the meeting, OPEC Secretary General Haitham Al Ghais said: “The Participating Countries’ commitment to further unlocking the full potential of the CoC has once again been clearly evident today.”
He also stressed the importance of fully realizing and further operationalizing the objectives of the CoC, including by facilitating dialogue with major oil consumers, promoting oil market stability, and strengthening cooperation in technology, innovation, and investment.
“Doing so would greatly benefit oil producers, consumers, investors, and the global economy alike,” Al Ghais said.
Concluding the meeting, the OPEC Secretary General thanked all delegates for their valuable contributions and continued commitment. He also expressed the Secretariat’s sincere gratitude to Azerbaijan for hosting the inaugural meeting.
Azerbaijan’s Minister of Energy Parviz Shahbazov said: “Holding the inaugural meeting of the Technical Committee of the Charter of Cooperation in Baku—the cradle of the modern oil industry—is a clear recognition of Azerbaijan’s role in global energy cooperation, as well as the trust and reputation it has earned as a reliable and responsible partner within the OPEC+ framework.
“We are confident that this meeting will make a meaningful contribution to further strengthening dialogue and mutual trust within OPEC+, preserving stability and predictability in the global oil market, and advancing long-term cooperation among participating countries.
“At a time when global oil demand remains strong, while declining investment in oil exploration and production is creating new risks to future market stability, dialogue platforms such as this are more important than ever. Oil remains one of the fundamental pillars of the global economy and energy security, and it will continue to play this strategic role for decades to come.”
The Charter of Cooperation was signed by OPEC Member Countries and non-OPEC participating countries in the Declaration of Cooperation (DoC) on July 2, 2019, during the 6th OPEC and non-OPEC Ministerial Meeting. It ushered in a new era of cooperation while complementing the momentum generated by the success of the DoC. All participants in the DoC are members of the CoC, in addition to Brazil, which joined the Charter of Cooperation in February 2025.
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