SMB

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

Three More SMEs Awarded “Startup” Certificates Public discussion is organized due to green transport business Opportunities for entrepreneurial activities in regions : SME Friends, SME Development Agencies The Promotional Exhibition of Local Companies is Commencing Meeting was held with Entreprenuers engaed in import and export 8th Plenary Session of the CICA Business Council and the 10th Business Forum Held in Baku Attention to SMEs Wishing to Showcase Their Products and Services at the “2nd Turkic Trade Fair”! Young Entrepreneurs from Azerbaijan and Turkiye Discuss Prospects for Cooperation With Government Support, Nearly 10 Entrepreneurs Participate in “Caspian Agro” and “InterFood Azerbaijan” Exhibitions Another Training Held for Entrepreneurs Engaged in Export Activities

Public discussion is organized due to green transport business 27.05.25

At the event, participants exchanged views on the implementation of green technologies in the transport sector, the challenges facing the field, the operation of eco-friendly transport vehicles, and the development of relevant infrastructure. Proposals from entrepreneurs were also heard and discussed.

A public discussion titled “Green Transport Business: Opportunities and Prospects” was held with the support of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the Azerbaijan Land Transport Agency (AYNA), and organized by the Public Council under the Small and Medium Business Development Agency (KOBIA). The event, hosted at the Baku SME House, brought together representatives from relevant state institutions and business associations, as well as nearly 70 entrepreneurs active in the sector.

Chairman of the Public Council under the Small and Medium Business Development Agency (KOBIA), Samir Abdullayev, noted that the event was organized to discuss the application of green technologies in the transport sector, the associated challenges, the functioning of eco-friendly vehicles, and the development of supporting infrastructure.

In his speech, Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs Ogtay Karimov emphasized that in order to ensure the transition to environmentally friendly means of transport, the legislative framework has been improved to support the decommissioning of outdated vehicles with low technical safety standards. To encourage the use of eco-friendly transport, including electric and hybrid vehicles, various incentives and exemptions have been introduced for the production, import, export, circulation, and operation of such vehicles. As a result, interest in electric and hybrid vehicles has increased significantly. Currently, these types of vehicles account for 4.7% of all registered vehicles in the country. Notably, in the current year alone, 40% of newly registered vehicles have been electric or hybrid-powered. Compared to 2023, the number of registered electric and hybrid vehicles has doubled. In an effort to reduce vehicle emissions, the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources conducts a "Clean Air" campaign twice a year. Over the past year and during the current reporting period, administrative penalties have been imposed on 34,124 drivers for violating regulations related to emissions control.

Chairman of the Board of the Azerbaijan Land Transport Agency (AYNA), Anar Rzayev, highlighted the ongoing initiatives in public transportation, including infrastructure modernization, micromobility development, and recent amendments to the relevant legislation. It was noted that last year, 166 electric buses and 55 environmentally friendly CNG-powered buses were introduced into Baku’s public transport network. This year, private operators are expected to acquire and commission approximately 400 additional eco-friendly buses. As part of micromobility infrastructure development, parking spaces for scooters have been established at 484 locations, while metal structures for bicycle parking have been installed at 78 locations. Necessary measures have also been taken to ensure safety in micromobility lanes. Since 2024, a bicycle rental service has been launched. In Baku, the number of micromobility vehicles available for rent through various operators has reached approximately 4,760, of which 77% are scooters and 23% are bicycles.

Chairman of the Board of the Small and Medium Business Development Agency (KOBIA), Orkhan Mammadov, emphasized that the development of green transport opens up new business opportunities for SMEs and steers them toward innovative sectors. In particular, the growing adoption of electric vehicles and other eco-friendly modes of transport is creating new fields of activity such as technical service centers and charging infrastructure. He also noted that when planning green transport infrastructure, it is essential to consider the interests of SMEs and the issues that may impact their operations. Entrepreneurs who wish to operate in the green transport sector or who may be affected by it should monitor industry trends, adapt to emerging products and services, and aim to implement logistics models that have a minimal impact on the environment.

During the event, the proposals of business entities in the relevant field were explored, key issues were identified, and an exchange of views was held. Questions from entrepreneurs were also addressed.