Press Release

USAID Debuts Project to Improve Business Environment for Azerbaijani MSMEs

The five-year USAID-funded Private Sector Activity is implemented by Cultivating New Frontiers in Agriculture (CNFA).

WASHINGTON, D.C. —  The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has launched a new $15 million initiative to improve Azerbaijan’s business-enabling environment and support a more resilient national economy.

USAID’s five-year Private Sector Activity, implemented by Cultivating New Frontiers in Agriculture (CNFA), aims to improve competitiveness in the private sector by strengthening business support services and reducing barriers to the development of micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs)—especially those in agriculture and other rural business sectors.

“CNFA will leverage its years of experience implementing USAID activities with agribusiness entrepreneurs in Azerbaijan to hit the ground running on this unique new project,” said CNFA President and Chief Executive Officer Sylvain Roy. “The Activity—through partnerships with the Azerbaijani government and the private sector—will drive institutional changes that support greater diversification of the non-oil economy, and help small and medium-sized farmers become more commercially viable, as well as more competitive in local and export markets.”

Among other objectives, the Activity aims to remove obstacles to competition, investment and trade by working with associations and MSMEs to identify those barriers, communicate them to the relevant government agencies and facilitate solutions. To increase trade, export and income opportunities, the Activity will also work with processors, traders and cold storage operators to improve their adherence to international standards and best practices.

As part of the project, the Activity will provide technical specialists and support to assist Azerbaijani officials to identify public-sector reforms. Technical assistance may include specialists in areas including food safety, MSME development service provision and others identified by the project partners. Once reforms are identified, the project will recommend options for designing reforms, monitor the progress of their implementation and offer additional assistance as needed.

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Cultivating New Frontiers in Agriculture is an international agricultural development organization that specializes in the design and implementation of sustainable, enterprise-based agricultural initiatives. We work with businesses, foundations, governments, and communities to build customized local and global partnerships that meet the world’s growing demand for food. Since our inception in 1985, we have designed and implemented enterprise-based, agricultural development initiatives to facilitate market access, enhance agribusiness competitiveness, increase productivity, and improve access to inputs and financing in 46 countries around the world.