BAKU, Azerbaijan, September
25. U.S. companies are showing high interest in
Azerbaijan and the broader region - Central Asia and the South
Caucasus, Executive Director of the U.S.-Azerbaijan Chamber of
Commerce (USACC) Natig Bakhishov said at the 2nd Azerbaijan
International Investment Forum held in Baku today, Trend's correspondent
reports from the event.


According to him, trade missions, regular conferences, and
engagement with U.S. companies provide firsthand insight into their
views on the region:


"We have direct experience and feedback regarding how American
companies currently perceive the region," the executive director
explained.


He noted that American business interest in Azerbaijan, Central
Asia, and the Caucasus is nothing new.


"Azerbaijan and the broader region - Central Asia and the
Caucasus - have always been on the radar of American business. Of
course, geopolitical shifts can sometimes alter or influence
corporate activities. The U.S. government's approach to the region
also shapes the attitude of American businesses. Following the
historic August summit, the renewed U.S. government engagement with
the region—specifically the South Caucasus and Central Asia—has
truly boosted confidence among U.S. companies. We receive numerous
inquiries weekly," he said.







He pointed out that while the USACC strives to respond to
incoming inquiries, a joint visit to the region by business and
U.S. government representatives is sometimes more effective.


"I would cite our recent trade mission to the Middle Corridor
region as an example. That trip involved a substantial delegation
visiting Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, and Georgia," Bakhishov
recalled.


According to him, the trip highlighted the fact that regional
governments recognize the need for cooperation to foster business
development and attract investment.


"We observed that the region's governments—despite operating
within different jurisdictions—understand that working together is
essential for business development and for attracting investment,
not only from the U.S. but from other countries as well," he
added.