Azerbaijani SMEs can apply for EU-supported loans through several local partner banks engaged in the EU4Business initiative. These loans come with improved terms — including lower interest rates, longer repayment periods, and the option to borrow in local currency.
As of 2025, the following banks are offering EU-backed financing:
- Bank Respublika – in partnership with the European Investment Bank (EIB), it provides loans under the MSME Outreach Initiative for the Southern Caucasus, aimed at enhancing access to finance for small businesses and supporting job creation.
- AccessBank – supported by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and the European Fund for Southeast Europe (EFSE), AccessBank offers financing tailored to the needs of micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises to boost growth and competitiveness.
- International Bank of Azerbaijan – involved in EU-supported trade finance schemes.
For the most up-to-date list of financial institutions and eligibility conditions, visit the official EU4Business Azerbaijan page or contact the partner banks directly.
Azerbaijani SMEs can benefit from EU-funded advisory services designed to enhance business performance and growth potential:
The EBRD’s ‘Advice for Small Businesses’ programme, active until June 2026, offers subsidised consultancy support in areas such as strategy, marketing, financial management, quality standards, and operations. The programme connects SMEs with local and international consultants to address business-specific needs. It is funded under the EU4Business initiative and continues to accept new applications.
Azerbaijani curtain producer Sarvagelli Racablini boosted efficiency and sales by implementing a modern CRM and task management system with support from EU4Business and the EBRD’s advisory programme. This digital transformation streamlined internal operations and helped the business scale successfully.
EBRD Advice for Small Businesses provides subsidised consultancy to women-led SMEs in areas like strategy, finance, digitalisation, and quality management.
The SME Competitiveness Programme offers training and advisory services for Azerbaijani SMEs, including gender-focused capacity building.
Vusala Akhmadova from Tovuz turned her hobby into a business, helping women and children develop, with support from EU initiatives.
Rural and family-run businesses in Azerbaijan can access tailored support through EU-backed initiatives.
ABAD (ASAN Support to Family Business), supported by the EU, provides comprehensive assistance to family businesses and artisans across the country. Services include legal and accounting support, branding, packaging design, and marketing — all aimed at helping small producers gain visibility and improve their market reach.
EBRD Advice for Small Businesses (Team Europe EaP Window, 2020–2027) supports rural SMEs with consultancy in areas such as strategic planning, operations, financial management, and energy efficiency. Rural enterprises can apply for co-funded advisory projects to strengthen their competitiveness.
The Agalarov family from the Shaki-Zaqatala region revitalised their traditional carpet weaving business with support from EU initiatives, turning their craft into a successful enterprise.
The EU-Azerbaijan Business Forum 2024–2026 is an initiative that aims to boost the non-oil sector by strengthening the business climate and supporting economic diversification. Through sector-specific business forums, regional trade missions beyond Baku, and a dedicated digital networking platform, the Forum helps Azerbaijani SMEs engage with EU businesses.
The programme is open to SMEs across the country and is particularly relevant for businesses that are ready to enter new markets and build long-term cooperation with EU partners.
Yes, Azerbaijani startups can benefit from EU4Business-supported initiatives that promote innovation, entrepreneurship, and access to finance. These programmes offer grants, technical assistance, and mentoring to help startups grow and scale.
One notable example is the Collaborate for Impact initiative, which supports the development of social entrepreneurship and impact investment ecosystems across the Eastern Partnership region. In Azerbaijan, the programme fosters the growth of socially-oriented startups by providing financial support and tailored capacity-building activities. The local partner of the project is the Education Hub.
Startups may also benefit from access to EU-supported innovation hubs and digitalisation projects that aim to align Azerbaijani ventures with EU market standards and innovation ecosystems. The local partner of the project is the Education Hub.
The EBRD’s Star Venture programme provides high-potential startups and accelerators with the tools and expertise needed to succeed, and collaborates with governments, corporations and venture capital (VC) funds to build innovative entrepreneurial ecosystems across the EBRD’s regions. After startups are selected, they will be offered business diagnosis, advisory, mentoring, access to finance, access to market, cloud-computing service and e-learning over the course of 24 months.
Azerbaijani SMEs looking to export to the EU must comply with a range of product, safety and labelling standards. To support this, EU4Business offers targeted training and advisory services that help companies understand EU regulatory frameworks, navigate certification processes, and align with quality and compliance requirements.
The EU4Digital programme strengthens the digital economy and promotes the harmonisation of standards across the Eastern Partnership region. While it focuses broadly on digitalisation, it also supports alignment with EU norms, particularly for e-commerce and data-related services. More details are available in the EU4Digital Phase II report.
For companies seeking to understand specific EU product requirements, including safety and labelling rules, the European Commission provides up-to-date guidance:
These resources help businesses determine applicable rules for their products and sectors, a crucial step for entering and staying competitive on the EU market.
To make sure you don’t miss out on new funding, training, and events, you can:
- Visit the EU4Business Azerbaijan country page: https://eu4business.az/en/
- Subscribe to the EU4Business newsletter: https://eu4business.eu/
- Monitor the EU Delegation to Azerbaijan for funding updates
- Engage with local chambers of commerce and SME agencies involved in EU-funded activities
- Subscribe to receive opportunities from EU NEIGHBOURS East
You can also check the EU4Business Projects page to find out which programmes are active in Azerbaijan.
