The OECD organised two Working Group meetings in June and October 2021. The meetings brought together a wide range of stakeholders involved in the design and implementation of SME policies, including policy makers and business associations from Azerbaijan, the OECD members countries, OECD and international experts, and the EU.
First Working Group (June 2021)
The objective of the meeting was to discuss policies to support the digital transformation of SMEs in Azerbaijan with members of a working group established within the framework of the project “Promoting SME digitalisation in Azerbaijan”.
The meeting was opened with remarks from Mr Mehman Abbas, the Deputy Chairman of the Small and Medium Business Development Agency of Azerbaijan, and Ms Ulviya Abdullayeva, the Project Manager of the Delegation of the European Union to Azerbaijan. Mr Patrik Pruzinsky from the OECD Eurasia Division then introduced the project Promoting SME Digitalisation in Azerbaijan, and discussed its main features, implementation processes and objectives.
During the first session, public and private sector representatives from Azerbaijan presented current trends and challenges of SME digitalisation in Azerbaijan, as well as planned policy initiatives and support programmes aiming to boost digitalisation of the SME sector. The panel brought together remarks from Mr Mehman Abbas, Deputy Chairman of the Small and Medium Business Development Agency of Azerbaijan; Mr Tamerlan Taghiyev, Director of the Centre for Analysis and Coordination of the 4IR, Ministry of Azerbaijan; Ms Leyla Mammadova, Deputy Chairperson, Agency for Agro Credit and Development (AKIA), Ministry of Agriculture of Azerbaijan; Mr Eldar Jahangirov, Team Leader on conceptualisation of national digitalisation, Ministry of Transportation, Communications and High Technologies of Azerbaijan; Mr Farid Osmanov, Executive Director, Central Bank of Azerbaijan; Mr Mehdi Javadov, Deputy Director, e-Gov Development Centre, State Agency for Public Service and Social Innovations; Mr Nuru Suleymanov, Director, Department of National Accounts and Macroeconomic Statistics, Azerbaijan State Statistical Committee; and Mr Vugar Zeylanov, Vice President, National Confederation of Entrepreneurs (Employers) Organizations of Azerbaijan (ASK).
The second panel focused on ways and approaches to support digital transformation of SMEs based on international good practices. Mr Raido Lember, Business Development Manager, Enterprise Estonia, outlined the main features of Estonia’s approach to SME digitalisation support. Mr Jesus Lozano, IT entrepreneur and senior expert on SME digitalisation, shared benefits of digital transformation and the role of government in supporting digital transformation.
Second Working Group (October 2021)
The objective of the second Working Group meeting was to discuss preliminary findings and policy recommendations of the porject with members of the Working Group within the framework of the project “Promoting SME Digitalisation in Azerbaijan”.
The meeting was opened with remarks from Mr Elmar Isayev, Head of Secretariat of the Small and Medium Business Development Agency of Azerbaijan and Ms Ramila Aslanova from the EU Delegation to Azerbaijan. Mr Patrik Pruzinsky and Ms Maria Zelenova of the OECD Eurasia Division then presented the preliminary findings and draft policy recommendations of the project. The presentation covered the strategic approach to SME digitalisation, the framework conditions for SME digitalisation and digital skills, and policies to support the uptake of digital solutions by SMEs.
Mr Jesus Lozano, IT entrepreneur and senior expert on SME digitalisation, presented a blueprint for a programme to support uptake of digital technologies by SMEs, accompanied by practical examples based on international best practices and personal experience.
Following that, participants exchanged their views on the presented findings and draft policy recommendations, and discussed latest government initiatives to support SME digitalisation. Representatives from the Ministry of Economy, SMBDA, Ministry of Digital Development and Transport, State Agency for Public Service and Social Innovations (ASAN), Central Bank of Azerbaijan, and State Statistical Committee participated in the discussion.
