On September 19, 2024, a joint meeting of AHK Azerbaijan’s Financial Services and Agriculture & Food Industry Working Groups was held at the AHK Azerbaijan office. The main topic of the meeting was “Raising Capital through Securities.” The event was opened by Mr Ilgar Aliyev, Vice-Chairperson of the Agriculture & Food Industry Working Group, who welcomed the participants and provided information about the meeting’s agenda and topic.

The guest speaker at the meeting was Ms Anjela Ramazanova, Head of the Listing Department at the Baku Stock Exchange (BSE). After greeting the participants, she gave a comprehensive overview of the history, structure, and activities of the BSE. Ms Ramazanova also spoke about the recent rebranding process at the BSE and its new strategic plan.

Ms Ramazanova provided insights into the organizational transformations at the BSE, including efforts to deepen the market, build a larger investor base, and enhance market liquidity. These steps are aimed at fostering a dynamic capital market ecosystem.

Continuing her presentation, Ms Ramazanova elaborated on the state of the bond market, including corporate and government bonds, the growth of the local stock market, and the differences between stocks and bonds, emphasising the advantages of bonds.

Discussing the benefits of financing through the BSE, Ms Ramazanova also highlighted the advantages of stock listing for both issuers and investors. She noted that for issuers, listing provides access to finance, relief from debt burdens, and an enhanced public profile. For investors, it offers profitability, high dividend yields, and affordable equity opportunities.

Ms Ramazanova also spoke about the availability of IPO (Initial Public Offering) guidelines for companies interested in joining the listing process at the BSE, as well as the roadmap for issuers accessing the exchange. Additionally, she provided detailed information about the BSE’s listing advisory program.

The meeting concluded with a productive exchange of ideas, and Ms Ramazanova, in turn, thoroughly answered all the participants' questions.