![Azerbaijan-UAE SME Forum was held in Dubai as part of the Annual Investment Meeting](https://smb.gov.az/storage/4003/1.jpg)
The 11th Annual Investment Meeting (AIM) on "Investing in Sustainable Innovation for a Thriving Future" will kick off on March 29 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Traditionally, the annual event includes conferences, bilateral meetings between government officials, as well as businessmen, exhibitions and other events.
As part of the Annual Investment Meeting, a Forum on Small and Medium Business (SME) was held on March 28 at the Azerbaijan pavilion of Dubai Expo 2020. Azerbaijan-UAE SME Forum organized by the Small and Medium Business Development Agency (SMBDA) of the Republic of Azerbaijan and supported by NEQSOL Holding: the purpose of the event "uniting businesses, uniting countries" is to discuss opportunities for SMEs, to provide a joint platform for SMEs to network and exchange ideas.
Speaking at the event, Minister of Labor and Social Protection of the Population of the Republic of Azerbaijan Sahil Babayev informed about the social reforms implemented in Azerbaijan, the self-employment program, the activities of DOST centers, mechanisms for electronic determination of social payments.
In his speech, Chairman of the Board of SMBDA Orkhan Mammadov spoke about economic and trade relations between Azerbaijan and the United Arab Emirates, energy and cooperation in the field of SMEs with relevant agencies of the UAE, support provided by the Agency to local and foreign businessmen.
In his speech, Omar Khan, Head of the Foreign Relations Department of the Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry, noted that Azerbaijan and the UAE have great potential for cooperation in the field of SMEs, noting that the chamber is ready to support joint initiatives in this direction.
Yusif Abdullayev, Acting Executive Director of the Azerbaijan Export and Investment Promotion Agency (AZPROMO), Stuart Evers, Chairman of the Board of AzerTelecom LLC, as well as representatives of business associations and businessmen from different countries commented on joint business initiatives and the role of digitalization in economic development.
Then the participants visited the Azerbaijani pavilion of Dubai Expo 2020.
On the same day, a seminar on "SME support mechanisms in the post-pandemic: the effectiveness of public-private dialogue" was organized by SMBDA.
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