16:24 - 21.07.2026

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July 21, Fineko/abc.az. In the first half of 2026, the Small & Medium Business Development Agency under the Ministry of Economy received 87 applications from micro- and small business entities for "startup" certificates.

According to the agency, the applications were reviewed by the Expert Council, established to issue the relevant document, based on the Criteria for Determining a Startup, approved by the Cabinet Ministers on January 29, 2021. As a result of the review, a decision was made to issue a "startup" certificate to 35 entrepreneurs.

Of the entrepreneurs who received the certificate, 28 are legal entities and 7 are individuals. 26 of them are operating in Baku, while 9 are operating in the regions. Two of the recipients are women.

Projects that have received a "startup" certificate cover innovative solutions in areas such as e-commerce, artificial intelligence, fintech, education, public catering, transportation and logistics, electric vehicle energy infrastructure, industry, tourism, and business process digitalization.

In total, 282 SMEs have received a "startup" certificate to date.