A meeting was held regarding the implementation of the "Karabakh SMBs Project" in 2024

The "Karabakh SMBs Project" is also planned to continue in 2025.

A meeting was held regarding the implementation of the "Karabakh SMBs Project" in 2024, which is carried out with the joint partnership of the Small and Medium Business Development Agency (KOBİA), the State Employment Agency under the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection of Population, the Development Corporation, and the National Education Technology Center, with financial support from "Pasha Holding" LLC.

Representatives of relevant state institutions, entrepreneurs, business association members, as well as war veterans, martyrs' families, and members of the families involved in the project participated in the event.

The event began with the playing of the national anthem of Azerbaijan and a one-minute silence in honor of the martyrs who sacrificed their lives for the territorial integrity of the country.

Following this, a video about the "Karabakh SMBs Project" was shown.

Minister of Labour and Social Protection of Population, Sahil Babayev, spoke about the extensive social support package implemented for martyrs' families and war participants in the post-patriotic war period. It was noted that, as part of the support package, more than 25300 individuals were supported in terms of employment, including 12200 people involved in the self-employment program, 1054 people engaged in vocational training, and the others provided with suitable jobs. Within the framework of the self-employment program, small businesses were established for 524 members of martyrs' families and war veterans through joint projects with social partners.

The importance of the "Karabakh SMBs Project" in supporting the employment of martyrs' families, war veterans, and their family members was emphasized. It was noted that the project, organized by KOBİA, contributes to enhancing the business knowledge and skills of participants through training.

The employment measures taken for the residents relocated to the liberated territories were also discussed, with the report that 86% of the economically active population in these areas had already been provided with employment.

Orkhan Mammadov, Chairman of the Board of KOBİA, emphasized that the "Karabakh SMBs Project" is an integral part of the attention and support given to the participants of the Patriotic War in Azerbaijan. He stated that the project, which aims to improve the social welfare and employment of war veterans, participants, and their families, as well as martyrs' families, has been implemented since 2023. It was also noted that in 2024, 70 SMB entities were established in Baku, Ganja, Barda, Goranboy, Fuzuli, Zabukh in Lachin, and Agali in Zangilan. In total, 120 SMB entities have been established within the framework of the project. Training was provided by KOBİA to enhance business knowledge and skills, and vocational courses were organized according to the chosen activity programs. Those who successfully completed the training and vocational courses were provided with the necessary equipment within the self-employment program. A platform was also created where entrepreneurs benefiting from the project could present their products and services. The "Karabakh SMBs Project" is planned to continue in 2025.

Additionally, Aynur Mammadova, a family member of a participant of the Patriotic War involved in the "Karabakh SMBs Project," and Dayanat Sadullayev, Chief of Staff of "PAŞA Holding" LLC, shared their impressions about the project.