Azernews.Az

By Amina Nazarli

BP and its partners in Azerbaijani oil and gas projects together with the Azerbaijani Economy Ministry extended the implementation of the local business development program for two more years.

BP Azerbaijan Vice President Bakhtiyar Aslanbayli, announced about this while addressing the event on the program in Baku on November 28, noting that the main goal of the program is to give momentum to the development of the country’s business potential.

This programme has been in the core of all our efforts aimed at supporting local companies and businesses, he said.

"Since the programme was launched in 2007 around 2000 local small- and medium-size enterprises, representing a wide range of sectors and industries, have participated in it. Around 200 of them have completed the full course, learning how they can demonstrate progressive performance through growth, development and improvement," Aslanbayli added. “Thanks to the program realization, a number of the companies which participated in it, signed contracts worth hundreds of millions of dollars with numerous clients.”

He went on to say that BP and its partners are interested in active participation of local companies in their operations and projects in the region.

“Legislative requirements have changed over time,” Aslanbayli said. “We have decided to extend the implementation of the program by two years and bring it in accordance with the modern standards and requirements. Azerbaijani Ekvita service consulting company will deal with the program implementation.”

BP and its co-venturers are interested in increasing local participation in our operations and projects, according to him. "Our regional strategy has always had one clear target among many others – to assist Azerbaijan-based companies in developing their businesses," he said.

Aslanbayli further noted that during the next two years over one million manats (about $574.665) will be spent for the implementation of this program.

Managing partner at Ekvita Ilgar Mehti, speaking at the event said that the program is implemented only for the Azerbaijani companies.

"Joining it is free. Preference will be given to certain sectors. The program is not limited to oil and gas sector. During the project development program of business skills will be applied," he said.

Aslanbayli then added that the programme continues to be an opportunity for local businesses and companies from all sectors of the economy to learn, develop their capacity and focus on improvement. "It also remains an excellent opportunity to reach international standards and compete for supply contracts in all industries including the oil and gas industry," he said.

In turn, Deputy Minister of Economy Sahib Mammadov said that Azerbaijan is exploring new markets for the supply of its products.

"Azerbaijan produces competitive and export oriented products. If earlier we talked about the security of the domestic market, then now, thanks to the economic policies the country produces very competitive and export-oriented products. Enterprisers, meeting international standards are created,” he said.

Mammadov stressed that the president pays special attention to the development of entrepreneurship.

"The economic processes taking place in the world also impacted Azerbaijan.
But thanks to the head of state’ policy we show resistance to these processes. We understand that we need flexible arrangements and need to speed up the process of development of business in the country,” he noted.

Within the framework of the economic reforms, the country began the implementation of important projects, he said.

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Amina Nazarli is AzerNews’ staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @amina_nazarli

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