USAID Hosts Summit to Promote Women’s Entrepreneurship in Azerbaijan

BAKU - USAID announced the creation of the first ever Women’s National Business Agenda (WNBA) during a summit held today in Baku. The WNBA will serve as a private sector-led platform for innovative policy recommendations that increases women’s participation in commerce.

Organized under USAID’s Private Sector Activity (PSA), the summit brought together like-minded organizations seeking to reduce legal and societal barriers to women’s leadership and increase their economic participation. The event generated interest in creating a coalition to amplify the efforts of women’s associations and businesses in its contribution to the Government of Azerbaijan’s economic reforms expanding and strengthening women’s entrepreneurships. 

USAID/Azerbaijan’s Mission Director Dr. Jay Singh noted, “Through this effort, we are improving the business-enabling environment and reducing administrative barriers that stifle competition, particularly for women. We collaboratively work towards strengthening women-focused and women-led businesses and organizations to advance an economic reform agenda that recognizes women entrepreneurs as an important driver of the national economy.”

Shalala Kamilova, head of USAID PSA’s women’s economic empowerment efforts, stated that the WNBA demonstrates the first time broad-based support in Azerbaijan has coalesced around a platform to promote women’s entrepreneurships. 

Today’s event was attended by officials from the Ministry of Economy, the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection, the Ministry of Agriculture, the Small and Medium Business Development Agency, the State Employment Agency, the Agrarian Credit and Development Agency, and the State Committee on Family, Women and Children’s Affairs; as well as representatives of the Azerbaijan Confederation of Entrepreneurs, women’s associations; international experts, including leaders who have created successful WNBAs in their own countries.

The USAID PSA (2019-2024) supports a more resilient Azerbaijan economy and improves the business environment for entrepreneurs. Women’s economic engagement is a dominant theme throughout. The PSA seeks to improve the competitiveness of the private sector, with an emphasis on agriculture and rural economic activities, building the capacity of business support services, and reducing the barriers that hinder the development of micro, small, and medium enterprises.