OSCE Office in Baku organizes seminar to promote positive business and investment climate

BAKU, 20 May 2009 - An OSCE-organized seminar on fostering a positive business and investment climate opened in the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic of Azerbaijan today.

The three-day seminar, organized by the OSCE Office in Baku in co-operation with the Nakhchivan State University, emphasizes the role of a sound business and investment climate for Azerbaijan's economic development. Students and government officials taking part in the seminar also will discuss various aspects and mechanisms contributing to a business-enabling environment.

"We hope that this seminar will have a direct influence on the policies aimed at stimulating economic growth," said the Head of the OSCE Office in Baku, Ambassador Bilge Cankorel.

"One important element of promoting economic development is the creation of a favourable business and investment climate, which enables the private sector to flourish and consequently generate more jobs, income and wealth."

During the seminar, several international experts will deliver lectures on the principles and recommendations outlined in the OSCE Best-Practice Guide for a Positive Business and Investment Climate, published in 2006 and translated into Azerbaijani in 2008.