Azerbaijan and EU Launch Business Forum to Expand Trade

The Government of Azerbaijan and the European Union opened the Azerbaijan-European Union Business Forum 2026 in Baku on October 21. The event, themed Bridging Corridors: Connectivity and Infrastructure, marks the 30th anniversary of the partnership between the two entities and the 10th anniversary of the forum. Government agencies, private sector representatives, and international financial institutions are meeting to discuss investment opportunities and the development of transport and logistics links, with a specific focus on the Middle Corridor.

As part of the forum, officials presented the EU Business Climate Report Azerbaijan 2025/2026, which surveyed 69 companies from 29 countries. The report found that 57% of surveyed companies view the current economic situation as satisfactory, citing energy supply, logistics, and political and social stability as primary strengths. While 29% of the firms surveyed have not yet entered the Azerbaijani market, they expressed interest in doing so.

Despite the positive outlook, the report noted a slight decline in business environment assessments compared to the previous year, which respondents attributed to the current geopolitical situation. European companies identified several primary challenges to growth, including payment discipline, access to finance, the quality of vocational education, and access to new technologies.