At the next panel session, information was provided on Azerbaijan's role in sustainable economic development, strategic policy frameworks for attracting foreign investments, and the opportunities offered by special economic zones and industrial parks.
Within the framework of the First Azerbaijan International Investment Forum held in Baku under the patronage of President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Mr. Ilham Aliyev, a panel session on the topic “Partnerships for Growth, Industrialization, and Sustainable Value Chains: Building Economies Ready for the Future” was conducted.
The session, moderated by renowned investment and geoeconomics expert Matthew Stevenson, featured Deputy Minister of Economy Samad Bashirli, who spoke about the role of industrialization in Azerbaijan’s sustainable economic development, strategic policy frameworks for attracting foreign investments, and the opportunities of special economic zones and industrial parks. The Deputy Minister also touched upon the importance of diversification in value chains and digital integration.
Participants included Valeh Alasgarov, Chairman of the Board of the Alat Free Economic Zone; Orkhan Mammadov, Chairman of the Board of KOBIA; Yusif Abdullayev, Executive Director of AZPROMO; Katalin Bihari, Director General of the Hungarian Export Promotion Agency and Deputy Secretary of State for Foreign Economic Relations; Ismail Ersahin, Executive Director of the World Association of Investment Promotion Agencies; Alkis Vryenios Drakinos, Director for the Caucasus at the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development; Anna Mareschi Danieli, CFO and Board Member of Danieli & C. Officine Meccaniche; Tim Cheston, Head Manager of Harvard Growth Lab; Thomas Lubeck, Regional Manager for Europe at the International Finance Corporation (IFC); James Chan, Chairman of WAIPA’s Executive Council and founder of the Global Special Economic Zones Alliance; and Samer Hac-Yehia, former CEO of Bank Leumi. They shared their views on the critical role of the North-South and East-West transport corridors for industrial growth and regional economic development.
Participants discussed strengthening regional cooperation, the development of small and medium-sized enterprises, and expanding export opportunities.
At the end of the session, a ceremony was held for the signing of several important documents.
Within the session, a Cooperation Agreement was signed between the Ministry of Economy and the International Finance Corporation (IFC) to enhance potential in the area of Public-Private Partnerships (PPP). The agreement was signed by Minister of Economy Mikayil Jabbarov and Thomas Lubeck, IFC’s Regional Manager for PPP Transaction Advisory Services - Europe. The document outlines cooperation in supporting the Ministry of Economy in preparing strategies and capacity-building for PPP project implementation, improving mechanisms for investment process review, and developing sector-specific guidelines for selecting and implementing PPP projects.
A Memorandum of Understanding was signed between the Economic Zones Development Agency and China Datang Overseas Investment Co. for the establishment of a Green Energy Industrial Park on the Absheron Peninsula. This cooperation envisages a long-term partnership in renewable energy production, clean technologies, and industrial infrastructure development. The memorandum was signed by Seymur Adigozalov, Chairman of the Board of the Agency for Development of Economic Zones, and Yuanlong Zhou, CEO of China Datang Overseas Investment Co.
A contract was signed between “Improtex Trucks & Buses” and "MAN Truck & Bus SE" for the assembly of electric buses in Azerbaijan. The contract was signed by Deputy Minister of Economy Samad Bashirli, President of “Improtex Trucks & Buses” Fuzuli Alakbarov, and a representative of "MAN Truck & Bus SE".
An Associate Center Partnership (Membership) Agreement was signed between the World Economic Forum and Azerbaijan Export and Investment Promotion Agency-AZPROMO. The agreement was signed by Yusif Abdullayev, Executive Director of AZPROMO, and Matthew Stevenson, Head of International Trade and Investment Policy and Communities at the World Economic Forum.
A Memorandum of Understanding on joint knowledge and experience exchange was signed between the Scientific Research Institute of Water and Melioration and ACWA Power. The memorandum was signed by Mir Movsum Dadashov, Chairman of the Board of the Scientific Research Institute of Water and Melioration, and Selim Güvent, Country Manager for Azerbaijan and Türkiye at ACWA Power.
