SMB

We believe Azerbaijan’s socio-economic development is closely linked with entrepreneurship and its future development!

27 June – International Day of Micro-, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises: SMEs Changing the World A reception of entrepreneurs will be held in Balakan Businessmen of the Nigde (Niğde) Region of Türkiye Visited the Baku SME House Investment Portal: A Support Tool Bringing Together Entrepreneurs and Investors on One Platform Azerbaijan Pavilion Featured at IsDB’s 14th Private Sector Forum Exhibition Winners of the Startup Competition Held Within the Framework of the Islamic Development Bank Group Annual Meetings Announced Support for Expanding Sales Opportunities of SMEs The “7th Local Companies Promotion Exhibition” is being held HELF and AZHAB Forums Held in Baku During the 51st Annual Meetings of the Islamic Development Bank Group Startup Competition Launched Within the Framework of the IsDB Annual Meetings

450,000 AZN Allocated in Grants to Support Entrepreneurs' “Green Projects” 21.04.25

Entrepreneurs developing “green projects” are eligible to apply to the Small and Medium Business Development Agency (KOBIA) for a range of support services, including a “Startup” certificate, domestic market research, grants, training programs, consultancy services, and assistance with product sales.

To foster the development of environmentally sustainable initiatives and facilitate the transition toward a green economy, KOBIAChas thus far allocated over AZN 450,000 in grants to support 27 green projects and has issued more than 10 “Startup” certificates. In response to entrepreneurs' requests and under KOBIA’s initiative, the Agency has conducted three domestic market studies focused on recycling and efficient resource utilization. Additionally, KOBIA has organized 250 training sessions in this domain.

KOBIA has also supported the participation of SMEs with green projects in various exhibitions and fairs, further promoting their visibility and commercial potential. To enhance awareness and promote green business practices, more than 250 entrepreneurs have taken part in targeted meetings and educational events held both in Baku and across regional areas of Azerbaijan.

Entrepreneurs who are engaged in or planning green initiatives may contact KOBIA to benefit from services such as the “Startup” certificate, market analysis, grants, training, expert consultancy, and marketing support.

In 2024, under KOBIA’s leadership and support, two new national standards were developed and approved by the Azerbaijan Standardization Institute: the “Green Business Management Systems” and the “Framework for the Implementation of Environmental, Social, and Corporate Governance (ESG) Principles.” Furthermore, a unified digital ESG platform has been launched and made publicly accessible at https://esghub.az/ .

Entrepreneurs may also utilize a self-assessment platform developed by KOBIA (https://yb.smb.gov.az/) to measure the environmental impact of their operations and assess the efficiency of their resource usage. By registering on the platform and completing the relevant questionnaires, business entities can evaluate how efficiently they are using energy and water resources, how effectively they are managing waste, and the overall impact of their activities on the environment. The insights gained will help identify weak points and take the necessary measures for improvement.