Indian Ambassador discusses cooperation opportunities in Lankaran and Lerik

Indian Ambassador to Azerbaijan Abhay Kumar held a series of meetings in the districts of Lankaran and Lerik as part of his visit to the country's southern region, the Embassy told The Daily Baku.

The purpose of the visit was to promote cooperation between India and Azerbaijan in the fields of culture, healthcare, agriculture, and environmental protection.

The ambassador first visited the Lankaran History and Ethnography Museum. During a meeting with the museum’s director, Leyla Majidova, he was briefed on the region’s rich historical and cultural heritage and the museum’s role in preserving it.

As part of the visit, the diplomat also visited the Yenee Wellness Center, where he met with the center’s chief physician, Emil Hidayatli. The sides discussed opportunities to promote Ayurveda, yoga, and holistic health practices in Azerbaijan. The importance of encouraging healthy lifestyles ahead of International Yoga Day was emphasized during the meeting.

Abhay Kumar also visited a green tea plantation in Lankaran and met with its owner and director, Araz Yagubov. The discussions focused on the region’s tea-growing traditions, modern cultivation methods, and the role of tea production in local agriculture. The parties highlighted the shared tea culture of India and Azerbaijan and explored opportunities to expand cooperation and exchange expertise in the sector.

The ambassador also visited Hirkan National Park and Lake Khanbulan, where he familiarized himself with the region’s biodiversity and natural heritage. The ecological significance of the area and the importance of environmental conservation were highlighted during the visit.

In Lerik district, the diplomat visited the Longevity Museum. The museum’s chief curator, Matanat Guliyeva, introduced the guest to its exhibits and briefed him on Lerik’s traditions of longevity. It was noted that the district, located in the Talysh Mountains, is internationally recognized as the “Land of Longevity.”

At the conclusion of the visit, Abhay Kumar expressed gratitude for the hospitality extended to him. He voiced hope for further expansion of cooperation and people-to-people ties between India and Azerbaijan in the fields of culture, healthcare, sustainable agriculture, ecotourism, and environmental protection.