February 24, 2025 – Astana – The Board of the CICA Business Council convened for a meeting organized by the Management Board of the Small and Medium Business Development Agency of the Republic of Azerbaijan (KOBIA) in coordination with the Secretariat of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia (CICA). The meeting was centered on the preparations for the Eighth Plenary Session of the CICA Business Council and the Tenth CICA Business Forum.
In his remarks, CICA Secretary General Kairat Sarybay expressed gratitude to the participants for their valuable contributions to the Business Council. He highlighted Azerbaijan’s active and productive assumption of the CICA Chairmanship, including its stewardship of the Business Council since December 2024 and outlined Azerbaijan’s key priorities shaping its approach to this dimension.
To advance Azerbaijan’s objective of enhancing partnerships with international organizations, the Secretary General proposed extending invitations to relevant international organizations to participate in Business Council event. Ambassador Sarybay also emphasized the importance of information exchange among Member States regarding government measures to promote and develop SMEs. As a next step, he announced the preparation of an E-book, which will compile best practices in SME promotion and development across the CICA region, further enhancing knowledge-sharing and cooperation. The Secretary General underscored the innovative approach by organizing the ever first exhibition showcasing SME products from Member States.
In turn, Mr. Mammadov, Chair of the Management Board of KOBIA, announced that the Eighth Plenary Session of the CICA Business Council, the Tenth Business Forum and the SME Exhibition will take place in Baku on May 20-21, 2025. He emphasized that these events will serve as key platforms to strengthen direct engagement among business representatives, facilitate investment opportunities, and showcase SME innovations from CICA Member States. Additionally, he underscored the importance of enhancing trade and investment cooperation, expanding SME access to regional and global markets, supporting digital transformation, fostering industrial cooperation, integrating SMEs into global value chains, advancing the green economy and sustainable entrepreneurship and increasing opportunities for women entrepreneurs.
Board members from Kazakhstan, Russia, and Türkiye shared their perspectives on future collaboration, identifying key areas for joint initiatives. Mr. Karimsakov (Atameken NCE) supported the E-book initiative, emphasizing its value as an innovative and practical tool for providing clear guidance for businesses across the CICA region. Mr. Kondrashev (RSMB Corporation) proposed identifying key spheres for SMEs collaboration and suggested incorporating B2B networking opportunities into upcoming events to foster more engaging and productive interactions. Mr.Gurleyik (KOSGEB) highlighted the importance of women’s inclusion in entrepreneurship, stressing the need to remove barriers and create enabling conditions for their active participation, as gender equality is essential for sustainable economic growth.
Additionally, Ambassador Sarybay emphasized the importance of adopting a cross-dimensional approach within CICA’s advisory bodies, to synergize efforts and maximize impact. He underscored that these initiatives are closely interconnected, and fostering collaboration among them would create a more comprehensive and effective framework to strengthen CICA’s mission and broaden its reach.
The meeting marked an important step in the preparations for the upcoming events, reinforcing CICA’s commitment to fostering economic cooperation, innovation and inclusive growth across the region.
