OSCE Office in Baku supports legal centre for entrepreneurs

MINGACHEVIR, Azerbaijan, 17 April 2012 – A legal advice centre for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) supported by the OSCE Office in Baku opened today in Mingachevir, the fourth biggest city in Azerbaijan.

The centre will help promote sustainable economic development and enhance the business environment for SMEs in this region.

“SME development is very important to Azerbaijan, for diversifying the economy and building non-energy sectors’ revenues in the regions outside Baku. International experience shows that SMEs are often the dynamic force driving innovation and competition which, in turn, advances economic diversification,” said Ambassador Koray Targay, the Head of the OSCE Office in Baku, in his opening speech.

He also emphasized the legal centre’s aim of promoting the involvement of women in the economic sphere: “Women’s participation in economic development contributes greatly to countries’ economic gains in the production and service sectors.”

The Mingachevir centre is the second OSCE-supported legal centre to be opened after the centre in Baku.

The opening ceremony will be followed by a roundtable discussion on the contribution of SMEs to economic development. More than 25 participants representing government agencies, business and civil society organizations will discuss ways for developing a business-friendly environment and promoting SMEs.

“SMEs are the engine of economic development, contributing greatly to reducing unemployment,” said Irada Javadova, the Chairperson of Education on Human Rights Public Association, the Office’s implementing partner. “Therefore we need to support these initiatives and create appropriate conditions for developing SMEs in Azerbaijan.”

The roundtable event participants will also discuss regulations relevant for entrepreneurs, including taxation, registration and licensing.