SMB

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The most active entrepreneurs of 2024 have been awarded A citizen reception was held at KOBİA Results of the 6th grant competition announced for financing projects by SMB entities have been disclosed A memorandum on the green transition of SMBs signed between KOBİA and the Asian Development Bank Business forum conducted within the framework of the project "Increasing attractiveness of the Shamakhi district for private Investments" New Startups Contributing to Digitalization The 9th "KOB Fest" exhibition -sales fair is underway in Göyçay With the support of KOBİA, Azerbaijani entrepreneurs' products were showcased at the "MÜSİAD EXPO" and "Halal Expo" exhibitions Yet another meeting of the sub-group on Environmental, Social, and Corporate Governance (ESG) standards was held 8 more SMBs have received the "Startup" certificate

Within the framework of COP29, the documents for collaboration were signed to support the green transition of SMBs 13.11.24

The “Baku Coalition Declaration for the Green Climate Transition of SMBs” developed at the initiative of KOBİA, were signed by ITC and SEBRAE, expressing their solidarity.

Within the framework of the 29th session of Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP29), held in Baku, the documents were signed to promote the green transition of SMBs and foster cooperation in this field.

At the signing ceremony held in the “Blue Zone”, an opportunity was announced for international organizations and institutions to sign the “Baku Coalition Declaration on the Green Climate Transition of SMBs”.The declaration was firstly signed by the representatives of International Trade Centre (ITC), Brazil's Micro and Small Business Support Service (SEBRAE), the Small and Medium Business Development Agency of the Republic of Azerbaijan (KOBİA), and Nigar Arpadarai, the UN Climate Change High-Level Champion for Azerbaijan. On behalf of the relevant organizations, the document was signed by Pamela Cokhamilton, Executive Director of the ITC, Orhan Mammadov, Chairman of the Management Board of the KOBİA, and Desio Lima, the President of SEBRAE. It is worth noting that the "Baku Coalition Declaration for the Green Climate Transition of SMBs," developed at the initiative of the KOBİA, aims to combine joint efforts for the green transition of SMBs to the green economy on the global scale. The declaration calls for global cooperation to facilitate the transition of small businesses to sustainable business models.This document aims to raise awareness and capacity, improve access to environmentally sound finance, and stimulate innovation to help small businesses to amass new practices. Besides, the declaration emphasizes collaboration and solutions to facilitate the integration of SMBs into green supply chains and support their transition to net-zero emissions.

The other document signed by ITC, SEBRAE, and KOBİA is titled the Tripartite Cooperation Declaration and envisages to promote joint collaboration towards achieving sustainable and inclusive economic development as outlined in the UN's 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and to facilitate the low-carbon transition of SMBs.

Additionally, within the framework of the event, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed between KOBİA and ITC to address key issues outlined in the “Baku Coalition Declaration for the Green Climate Transition of SMBs”, including support for the green transition of SMBs and the execution of collaborative initiatives to foster their development. The document was signed by Orhan Mammadov, the Chairman of the Management Board of KOBİA, and Pamela Cokhamilton, Executive Director of the ITC.

The Chairman of the Management Board of KOBİA: The green transition of SMBs promotes sustainable development by enhancing their competitiveness and providing access to new markets. "We are confident that the “Baku Coalition Declaration for the Green Climate Transition of SMBs”, developed under the initiative of KOBİA, will play a key role in advancing the green transition of SMBs globally, thereby helping to shape a more sustainable future. The support of ITC and SEBRAE in promoting the declaration is particularly important. The tripartite cooperation established for the implementation of the relevant declaration will also secure Azerbaijani SMBs to leverage the expertise of the participating organizations. Signing all three documents within the framework of COP29, aimed at supporting the facilitation of the green transition for SMBs, is particularly significant and underscores Azerbaijan's ongoing commitment to environmental sustainability.

Pamela Cokhamilton, Executive Director of the International Trade Centre stated: "Small businesses form the backbone of most economies and are the key components of the global supply chain.Therefore, the role of SMBs in addressing climate change is crucial. Together with KOBİA and SEBRAE, we look forward to highlighting the perspectives and challenges of small businesses in developing countries within the climate context, and providing them with the support they need to manage the green transition."

Desio Lima, President of SEBRAE, stated: “Small businesses are crucial not only in Brazil but globally for driving the development of opportunities. In 2023, eight out of every ten workplaces created in Brazil were generated by micro and small businesses. This year, Brazil ranked second globally in terms of foreign investment inflows, underscoring that our economy is progressing in the right direction. Innovation, sustainability, and inclusivity are recurring themes that remain highly relevant. The green transition can only occur with the involvement of small businesses in the value chain. Brazil is ready for COP30.