Netherlands-Azerbaijan Business Forum catalyst for trade, investment and education cooperation

Living up to our reputation as the most international business school in Limburg, MSM brought large delegations from Azerbaijan and the Netherlands to our campus in Maastricht. On 23 and 24 April 2015 the Netherlands-Azerbaijan Business Forum saw an historical gathering of leaders from government, business and the education sectors from the two countries gathering to further cooperation. The event was co-organized by MSM, the Azerbaijan ADA University, Azpromo, the Province of Limburg, Flanders Investment and Trade, The Dutch Embassy in Baku, the NCH, and the European Azerbaijan Society.

(Photo: Dutch Minister of Economic Affairs Mr. Henk Kamp addressing the audience at MSM)

Senator Rene van der Linden, Chairman of MSM, and Prof. Wim Naudé, Dean of MSM, welcomed more than 200 participants at MSM, amongst them the Minister of Economic Affairs of the Netherlands Mr. Henk Kamp, the Minister of Economy and Industry of the Republic of Azerbaijan Mr. Shahin Mustafayev, the Dutch Ambassador to the Republic of Azerbaijan Mr. Robbert Gabriëlse, the Executive Director of the State Oil Fund of Azerbaijan Mr. Shahmar Movsumov and Vice Governor of Province of Limburg Mr. Twan Beurskens.

(Photo from left to right: Mayor of Imishli Mr. Viliam Hajiyev, Vice Governor of Province of Limburg Mr. Twan Beurskens , Executive Director of the State Oil Fund of Azerbaijan Mr. Shahmar Movsumov,Minister of Economy and Industry of the Republic of Azerbaijan Mr. Shahin Mustafayev, Minister of Economic Affairs of the NetherlandsMr. Henk Kamp, Senator Mr. Rene van der Linden Chairman of MSM, Deputy Province of Limburg Mr. Bert Kersten.)

The goal of the business forum was to support the business relations between the Netherlands and Azerbaijan, as well as to intensify actual business contacts between companies from several sectors in Azerbaijan and the Netherlands.

Following inspiring speeches and informative presentations in the morning, B2B meetings took place in the afternoon between 27 Azerbaijan companies and more than 60 Dutch companies, during which companies from both countries discussed possibilities and explored opportunities for business cooperation and partnership.

In the efforts of diversifying its economy, Azerbaijan offers opportunities to Dutch entrepreneurs in various sectors, such as agriculture and food, horticulture, transport and logistics, water and waste management, maritime, and oil, gas and sustainable energy. Currently, the Netherlands is the second investor, after Turkey, in the non-oil sector in Azerbaijan.

The Forum was a follow-up of the successful Dutch business mission organized by MSM and supported by MSM’s partner in Baku, the ADA University and AZPROMO, which took place in April 2014.

Since 2013 MSM offers, in partnership with ADA University, anExecutive MBA in Azerbaijan. Its Executive MBA with a specialization in Energy Management was recently given a global ranking by Eduniversal.