Projects

The program, sponsored by BP and its co-venturers and supported by multiple state and non-state stakeholders, aims at developing MSMEs in Azerbaijan across the entire economy. The overall objective is to support country-wide general enterprise development through developing and implementing capability development program. The program, through various ad hoc projects, provides capability development and tailored support to MSMEs in order to increase their competitiveness in the marketplace and employ them with necessary skills to operate to international standards. EDP assisted several policy makers and other stakeholders to identify strategic needs of MSMEs in the respective sectors of the economy, develop and implement tailored capacity building initiatives.  

The Project is implemented under Islamic Development Bank grant and aims achieving the following: Creating an enabling environment for Islamic banking in Azerbaijan and providing guidance on the development of an Islamic financial ecosystem in the country, incorporating, where applicable, the guidelines and standards issued by IFSB (Islamic Financial Services Board)and AAOIFI (Accounting & Auditing Organization for Islamic Financial Institutions); Developing a legal framework that is uniquely Azerbaijani, prepared in accordance with Azerbaijan’s context. Creating a level playing field between conventional and Islamic banking institutions in relation to legal treatment and taxation of financial products. Engaging with the MoE and other relevant stakeholders throughout the process to ensure transfer of knowledge and capacity building required for effective implementation of the proposed Islamic banking legal, regulatory and tax frameworks.

Azerbaijan has embarked upon major economic reforms aimed at diversifying the economy and increasing exports. The Strategic Roadmaps adopted end of 2016 set forth objectives and actions that should be undertaken in order to achieve them. Importantly, international standards and best practices were the basis for their development. In this scenario, it is necessary to build a strong and solid trade policies conforming with major best international practices. The overall objective is the strengthening of trade policy development and implementation and the support of the ongoing WTO accession negotiations. The work to be implemented contains a mix of activities that are aimed at helping to achieve both objectives.  

The project of Support for the development of the system responsible for control of food safety was implemented within the framework of the EU Agriculture and Rural Development Support Programme in Azerbaijan. The program has been sponsored by the EU Commission. Ekvita was part of the team that prepared the Final Report on the establishment of the National Reference Laboratory within that project. The overall objective was to adapt Azerbaijani Legislation to European Legislative framework promote sustainable regional and rural development in order to diversify the economy of Azerbaijan and to supports development reforms of the Government of Azerbaijan. More specifically the purpose of this contract is to assist the Ministry of Economy in setting up National Reference Laboratories and standardized practices in assessing food safety.  

The project will provide technical assistance to Ministry of Economy and its relevant structures, notably to business incubators, to improve the quality and variety of business support services for start-ups, entrepreneurs, SMEs, farmers and youth in rural regions and so build sustainable businesses. The overall objective of the project, of which this contract will be a part, is to contribute to business development, employment generation across all economic regions of Azerbaijan and to raise rural livelihoods and the quality of life in rural areas. The purpose of the contract is to support Ministry of Economy and its relevant structures to provide improved support for entrepreneurship and SME development in rural areas.  

The project involved providing ad hoc review of SMEDA’s strategic objectives with a view to align it with international best practices. The project also required providing legal support and institutional / corporate restructuring to ensure establishment of the robust and duly functioning organisational set-up. Specific objectives include the following: Assist SMEDA in aligning its activities with other related projects inSME support such as Enterprise Development Program; Provide legal support to SMEDA in identifying gaps in the legislationrelating to SME support; Provide analysis of the best international practices relating to SMEdevelopment and support focusing primarily on Turney, Singaporeand Malaysian examples; Provide legal input and expert opinion on the implementation ofbusiness cluster ideas as well as integration of Public Private Partnership concept into the structure of SMEDA.