SMB

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

Investment opportunities expand: the investment promotion mechanism now covers 17 strategic directions The territories liberated from occupation provide extensive opportunities for investors A blood donation campaign dedicated to Remembrance Day was held Delegation of representatives of the RIYADA organization from Oman visited “Baku SME House” Volunteer blood donation campaign will be held Entrepreneurs can apply to SME Houses to obtain licenses KOBİA representatives participated in an international seminar held in Turkey The next meeting of the permanent Coordination Group operating under KOBİA was held The next professional trainings within the framework of the “Karabakh SMEs 2026” project have been completed The provision of consulting services for entrepreneurs continues

35 "Startup" Certificates have been issued during the elapsed period of the current year 21.07.26

The projects that have received the "Startup" Certificate cover the fields of e-commerce, artificial intelligence, fintech, education, public catering, transport and logistics, and the energy infrastructure of electric vehicles.

In January–June 2026, the Small and Medium Business Development Agency (KOBİA) received 87 applications from micro and small business entities for obtaining the "Startup" Certificate. The applications were evaluated by the Expert Council established for the issuance of the relevant document, on the basis of the "Criteria for the Determination of a Startup", approved by the Resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Azerbaijan dated 29 January 2021, and a decision was adopted on the issuance of the "Startup" Certificate to 35 entrepreneurs.

Among the entrepreneurs who received the certificate, 28 are legal entities and 7 are natural persons. Of them, 26 operate in the city of Baku, while 9 operate in the regions. Among the entrepreneurs who received the relevant document, 2 are women entrepreneurs.

The projects that have received the "Startup" Certificate cover innovative solutions in the fields of e-commerce, artificial intelligence, fintech, education, public catering, transport and logistics, the energy infrastructure of electric vehicles, industry, tourism and the digitalisation of business processes.

In total, until the present time, the "Startup" Certificate has been issued to 282 SME entities.

Note: the issuance of the "Startup" Certificate has been carried out since 2021. This document is issued by KOBİA. The "Startup" Certificate exempts an entrepreneur, for a period of 3 years, from profit tax or income tax on income obtained from innovation activity. Micro and small business entities whose projects are at the development stage may apply to KOBİA for obtaining the "Startup" Certificate. For detailed information: https://smb.gov.az/az/nav/startap-sehadetnamesi