SCO Summit in Bishkek: Leaders of 17 countries plus UN chief António Guterres are set to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit on September 1, with Azerbaijan’s Ilham Aliyev among the expected participants, alongside Xi Jinping, Vladimir Putin, Narendra Modi and others—keeping regional security and economic cooperation firmly on the agenda. Digital Cooperation Organization Expansion: The DCO approved eight new member candidatures—Albania, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Lebanon, Palestine, Syria and Zambia—while Tajikistan is set to join as an associate member, signaling faster momentum for cross-border rules on data and AI. Banking Credit Push: Azerbaijan’s banks are expanding credit far faster than the economy, with net loans up and profits rising, but the report flags a sharp stall in bad-loan trends that could reshape lending appetite. Bond Market Watch: Azerbaijan’s bond market is moving toward more active secondary trading via automation plans, aiming to make corporate bonds easier to sell before maturity. Clean Energy Angle: Azerbaijan is betting big on renewables as COP29-era diversification plans expand beyond oil and gas, with World Bank-backed upgrades supporting transmission and private investment. EV Charging Rollout: Anari Energy says its EV chargers are now operating in multiple countries including Azerbaijan, as it hits new deployment milestones across regions. Karabakh Media Tensions: Russian media coverage of Karabakh is drawing criticism for language and framing seen as undermining Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity, raising questions about Moscow’s influence and messaging. Transport Cooperation: Azerbaijan and Russia’s Astrakhan region discussed strengthening freight links along the North-South Transport Corridor, alongside cultural cooperation. Consumer Safety Move: Azerbaijan tightens import rules to protect consumer safety, adding another compliance step for traders.