On 26 September 2026, during the Azerbaijan International Investment Forum (AIIF 2026), Valeh Alasgarov, Chairman of the Board of the Alat Free Economic Zone Authority (AFEZA), and Yang Xueren, Chairman of the Board of China’s Hong Kong Renteng International Trade Co., Limited, signed an investment agreement for the establishment of a manufacturing facility in the Alat Free Economic Zone (AFEZ). The facility will focus on the calcination of petroleum coke and the production of carbon anode blocks, with the majority of its output destined for export markets. The project marks another milestone in AFEZ’s efforts to attract international investment, promote high-value-added manufacturing and strengthen Azerbaijan’s integration into regional and global industrial supply chains.