2nd Central Baltic region business visit to Azerbaijan
To promote export development to Azerbaijan, the Latvian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) in cooperation with the Estonian Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Satakunta University of Applied Science is implementing the project “LEF Network Azerbaijan”.
From 9 to 15 March, a second business visit to Azerbaijan was held with 15 Latvian, Estonian, and Finnish education and green technology companies and organizations.
The business visit was organized in cooperation with the project partner in Azerbaijan “Caspian Energy Club”, the Embassy of Latvia in Azerbaijan, and the German-Azerbaijani Chamber of Commerce (AHK Azerbaijan).
In cooperation with Caspian Energy Club, a B2B event “Demo Day” was organized during the visit, which was opened by Edgars Skuja, Ambassador of the Republic of Latvia in the Republic of Azerbaijan, Peter Michalko, Ambassador of the European Union in the Republic of Azerbaijan Azerbaijan, Jaak Lensment, Head of the Estonian Embassy Office in Baku and Rasim Mahmudov, First Deputy Chairman and Chief Financial Officer of Caspian Energy Club. Līga Sičeva, Director of the EU Projects Department of the LCCI, presented the LEF Network Azerbaijan project. The event was followed by presentations on education and green technologies in Latvia, Estonia, and Finland. The presentation on educational technologies in Estonia was given by Kadri Haljas, Founder and CEO of Triumph Research OU in Estonia, the presentation on green technologies in the water sector in Finland was given by Arvo Nerman from Finnish Water Forum, and the presentation on green technologies in Latvia was given by Līga Sičeva, Director of EU Projects of LCCI. During the event, companies from the Central Baltic region had the opportunity to present their business, followed by individual B2B meetings with Azerbaijani companies.
During the visit, representatives of the education sector participated in the International Educational Fair, while green technology companies visited the Baku Water Week, where Caspian Energy Club organized a VIP tour for the companies during the fair with the exhibitors.
A networking event was organized in cooperation with AHK Azerbaijan, where a presentation on green technologies and education in Azerbaijan was given to the Central Baltic region companies. After the presentation, companies had individual B2B meetings.
The first two trade missions gained successful results as the University of Latvia and Turiba University have signed agreements with Azerbaijani student recruitment agencies to facilitate the attraction of Azerbaijani students to study in Latvia. As well as the project partner Satakunta University of Applied Science and Turiba University have also signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Academy of State Customs Committee of the Republic of Azerbaijan. Other participants of the business visits have already started practical negotiations on future cooperation.
Throughout the week, companies had one-to-one meetings with Azerbaijani companies and schools, visiting them at their premises to build successful cooperation for the future.
In the framework of LEF Network Azerbaijan project two more business visits to Azerbaijan are planned this year, as well as one incoming business visit from Azerbaijan to the Central Baltic region.
The vision of the LEF Network Azerbaijan project is to increase innovation and the bio-economy of the region by exporting services, goods, and know-how to Azerbaijan, thereby increasing the sustainability and competitiveness of the Central Baltic region. Azerbaijan has specific market needs, language, and business culture that challenge entrepreneurs. It is more difficult for companies to enter the market individually than in cooperation with other companies and business support organizations. The project will result in faster and more efficient exports to third countries.
The LEF network Azerbaijan project aims to conclude ten sales contracts between experienced SMEs from Finland, Estonia, Latvia, and Azerbaijan within 36 months.
The LCCI is the initiator and lead organization of the LEF network Azerbaijan project, it is important to note that the project is co-financed by the Interreg Central Baltic Programme.
