SMB

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

Next reception of citizens held at KOBİA What events will be organized for entrepreneurs in August? “Ganja SME House” provided entrepreneurs with more than 2,000 kinds of services during the first three months of activity Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation signed between KOBİA and the Turkish Trade Center SME cluster companies create new cooperation opportunities for entrepreneurs Business contracts Applications of entrepreneurs have been heard Interest in the "SME Volunteers" Programme continues to increase Training events are being conducted within the framework of the Business Partnership Programme 35 "Startup" Certificates have been issued during the elapsed period of the current year

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.