BAKU, Azerbaijan, September 26. Access to
skilled professionals, international standards and business
infrastructure, as well as access to new markets, are essential for
Azerbaijan to become a regional business platform, Vitaliy
Yakovlev, managing partner of KPMG Azerbaijan and partner and head
of infrastructure for KPMG in the Caucasus and Central Asia, said
Saturday at the second Azerbaijan International Investment Forum in
Baku, Trend’s correspondent reports
from the event.
“The issue is not only about attracting investment to
Azerbaijan, but also about creating conditions for the country to
become a platform for business,” he said.
“I think we need at least three components for this to happen.
And Azerbaijan is in a fairly good position in all these areas,”
Yakovlev said.
He identified access to skilled professionals as the first
condition.
“Since we work extensively with the younger population, we see
that the quality of education is improving, as is professional
expertise. A large number of international companies, including
companies like ours with a significant presence, operate in
Azerbaijan. This also helps establish relevant principles and
contributes to the development of education. The number of
professional programs in information technology and engineering is
also increasing in the country,” he said.
Yakovlev identified international standards and appropriate
business infrastructure as the second condition.
“Here, I think Azerbaijan is also in a fairly good position, as
many companies operate in line with international financial and
other standards, as well as compliance principles,” he said.
Access to new markets is the third condition, according to
Yakovlev.
“One of the main themes of this conference is connectivity,
including regional connectivity, which Azerbaijan has in terms of
transport corridors. Of course, this includes the Middle Corridor,
the energy corridor and other areas,” he said.
