Azerbaijan opened its Second National Competition Forum today, convening lawmakers, senior officials, business associations and private-sector representatives to discuss the role of competition in the country’s economic future. The event was organized by the State Service for Antimonopoly and Consumer Market Control under the President of Azerbaijan.
Keynote addresses were delivered by Economy Minister Mikayil Jabbarov, Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on Economic Policy, Industry and Entrepreneurship Azer Amiraslanov, and National Confederation of Entrepreneurs President Mammad Musayev, alongside agency head Elnur Baghirov.
Jabbarov framed the forum as a strategic dialogue platform to examine competition policy, natural monopolies, and the reforms that have reshaped Azerbaijan’s economic environment under President Ilham Aliyev. He tied these reforms to the August 8 U.S. peace agenda, which he said further boosts regional integration and investment appetite.
“Strengthening regional integration will diversify Azerbaijan’s non-oil sector and reinforce long-term competitiveness,” Jabbarov said.
He pointed to sustained non-oil growth averaging 6.7% annually from 2021 to 2024, with the sector’s share in the economy rising to 68% and projected to reach 70% by year-end. Non-oil exports have nearly doubled in six years, while private-sector investment grew 15% in the first eight months of 2025, totaling 8.2 billion manats. Foreign capital inflows into fixed assets rose 36% year-on-year.
Jabbarov emphasized that the private sector now accounts for 81% of economic activity, with inclusive entrepreneurship—particularly among women—showing momentum. The number of female entrepreneurs increased 7% in the first half of 2025, reaching around 333,000.
On regulation, he cautioned against systemic risks when industry organizations act both as regulators and market players. He underlined the importance of transparent oversight of natural monopolies, noting they are not inherently negative but must be properly managed to balance consumer interests and public benefit.
“Healthy competition requires more than one major player. Our goal is to encourage the emergence of new products and services that are absent from the market today,” the minister said.
The forum underscored Azerbaijan’s push for economic diversification, corporate governance reforms, and foreign investment attraction as cornerstones of its competitiveness agenda.
