Azerbaijan increased the export of oil products by 0.7% year-on-year to 225,616 tonnes in the first quarter of 2021, the State Customs Committee said.

Azerbaijan’s leading gold mining company, Anglo Asian Mining Plc, extended its contract with the government for five years for Gedabek mine, the company said.

Uzbekistan’s government has signed a $1.2 billion worth investment agreement with Dutch company Stone City Energy for the construction of a new thermal power plant in the ex-Soviet country, in a bid to attract foreign investors and develop the energy sector.

President Vladimir Putin blasted sanctions, warned the West against crossing “red lines” in their relations with Russia and said Moscow would respond in “rapid and harsh” fashion to  hostile actions.