Baku, 24 April 2025 —The International Organization for Migration (IOM) welcomed the adoption of the Baku Declaration during the third Ministerial Conference of the Almaty Process this week. This regional consultative process aims to uphold the protection of international migrants and refugees arriving to, from, and within Central Asia and the wider Almaty Process region.  

Almaty Process member states have around 8 million citizens abroad, while hosting 9.5 million international migrants. The broader group of members, observers, and invited countries collectively host nearly 25 million international migrants and have approximately 22 million of their own citizens abroad. 

Speaking during the conference, Arthur Erken, IOM Regional Director for Europe and Central Asia, highlighted that the Baku Declaration will significantly contribute to facilitating regional cooperation and ensuring safe, orderly, and regular migration. “The declaration aligns with the principles of the Global Compact on Migration and the IOM’s strategic plan, which prioritize partnerships and coordinated responses to the evolving dynamics of migration.” He also acknowledged the rise in labour mobility across the region, leading to a growing number of agreements among the countries in this region. 

Delivering the opening speech of the conference Vusal Huseynov, Chief of the State Migration Service touched upon Azerbaijan’s activities during its chairmanship, as well as main components of national migration management system. He also underlined the emerging migration trends after the restoration of territorial integrity of Azerbaijan. 

The conference also marked the conclusion of Azerbaijan's two-year chairmanship of the process (2023-2024), with Kazakhstan as the incoming chair. 

About the Almaty Process: 

Established in 2013, the Almaty Process serves as an interstate consultation mechanism (ISCM) on the protection of international migrants and refugees arriving to, from, and within Central Asia. Its member states are Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Türkiye, and Turkmenistan. Iran, Pakistan and Italy holding observer status. The secretariat to the process is a joint one by IOM and UNHCR. It supports the implementation of the Global Compact for Migration and the Global Compact on Refugees at national and regional levels, acting as an equitable platform for exchanging information and best practices, as well as enhancing the capacities of its participating and observing states. 
 
An important milestone of the third Ministerial Conference was the adoption of Baku Declaration which highlights the importance of fostering cooperation in the field of migration and development, climate related mobility and information exchange in the field of migration. 

For more information, contact: 

In Vienna: Kaye Viray, Regional Media and Communications Officer, kkviray@iom.int