Energy & Trade Diplomacy: President Ilham Aliyev used the 4th Shusha Global Media Forum to stress Azerbaijan’s rising role in energy security, including crude oil supplies to Japan and talks to expand gas exports to the EU as European demand grows. Oil & Markets: OPEC data put Azerbaijan’s average daily crude output at 456,000 barrels in June, steady vs May, with a 551,000 bpd quota through end-2026. Transport & Customs Modernization: FM Jeyhun Bayramov met the WCO chief to discuss customs digitalization, border security, anti-illicit trade and expanding transit capacity across East-West and North-South corridors. Reconstruction & Regional Industry: A Romanian Senate delegation visited Khankendi and surrounding districts, reviewing restoration work and upgrades to roads, energy, water and communications. Private Sector Finance Reform: Azerbaijan’s Milli Majlis adopted amendments allowing non-oil private firms to move VAT deposit funds to the State Social Protection Fund from Jan 1, 2027, for four years. Regional Shipping Risk: Reports say Strait of Hormuz traffic is increasingly going dark as vessels switch off transponders amid US-Iran tensions, raising uncertainty for global oil and LNG flows. Climate Finance Context: MDBs reported record climate funding in 2025, aligning with COP29 projections discussed in Baku.