The  European  Azerbaijan  Society  (TEAS)    

presents  the  second  edition  of  its  flagship  event:    

   

Business  Forum  France–Azerbaijan    

Towards  a  diversified,  decentralised  economy        

13  May  2015  at  L’Hôtel  de  l’Industrie    

Société  d’Encouragement  pour  l’Industrie  Nationale    4  Place  Saint-­‐Germain,  75006  Paris,  France  

   

     

By  invitation                  

Presentation    

The   TEAS   Foundation   (The   European   Azerbaijan   Society)   is   dedicated   to   developing   EU–Azerbaijani  best  practice  exchange  and  business  network  connections.   Its  goal   is   to   facilitate   investments  and  the  creation  of  strategic  commercial  partnerships  in  the  private  sector.  This  flagship  event  will  aim  to:      

• outline  the  opportunities  and  risks  of  undertaking  economic  and  commercial  co-­‐operation  with  Azerbaijan  

• disseminate   the  most  recent  data  regarding   the  Azerbaijani   investment  climate  and   investors’  concerns,  together  with  identifying  the  potential  areas  of  economic  and  industrial  co-­‐operation  

• disuss   the  possible  policy  reforms   that  could  help  strengthen  economic  co-­‐operation  between  Azerbaijan   and   European   countries,   and   exchange   best   practice   information   to   increase   the  level  of  internal  and  foreign  investments    

• present  the  opportunities  arising  from  economic  diversification  in  Azerbaijan,  thereby  reducing  overreliance   on   hydrocarbons,   and   identifying   the   strategic   sectors   for   future   economic   and  industrial  development,  particularly  in  the  private  sector.  

 This  year,  the  France–Azerbaijan  Business  Forum  will  explore  the  following  topics:      

• doing  business  in  Azerbaijan  • diversification   of   the   Azerbaijani   economy,   including   transportation,   ICT,   petrochemicals,  

pharmaceuticals  and  food-­‐processing  • energy  co-­‐operation,  ranging  from  oil  and  gas  to  renewables.  

 The  TEAS  France–Azerbaijan  Business  Forum  is  expected  to  attract  a  wide-­‐ranging  and  well-­‐informed  audience,  including  diplomats,  politicians,  investors,  bankers,  journalists,  experts,  NGO  representatives  and  French  and  Azerbaijani  experts  from  the  public  and  private  sector.        

TEAS  Business  Forum  France-­‐Azerbaijan  is  organised  with  the  kind  support  of  :    

Mr  André  Reichardt,  Senator  of  the  Bas-­‐Rhin  Region  and  President  of  the  France-­‐Caucasus  Friendship  Group  at  the  Senate  

 and  Mrs  Nathalie  Goulet,  Senator  of  the  Orne  Region  

   

 B2B  Meetings    

 Interested  companies  are  kindly  requested  to  register  before  

5  May  2015    with  Ms  Marie-­‐Laetitia  Gourdin,  Director,  TEAS  France  

E-­‐mail  :  marie-­‐laetitia.gourdin@teas.eu      

   

Main  partner    

     

Partners    

 

   

           Ambassade  de  France  en  Azerbaïdjan  

   

   

     

 

 Sponsors  

     

 

 

 

 

       

Programme  (draft)    13  May  2015      8:30   Registration  (badges  issued)  

   Opening  

 9:00–10:15   INTRODUCTORY  SESSION:  Why  is  Azerbaijan  a  strategic  economic  partner  for  

France  and  Europe  ?      

10:15–11:15  

SESSION  1  :  Doing  business  in  Azerbaijan  –  the  climate  for  overseas  investment,  status  of  the  market,  and  reforms  and  opportunities      For  many  entrepreneurs,  Azerbaijan  embodies  the  attraction  of  a  frontier  market  with  considerable  potential  for  French  stakeholders,  but  with  a  business  environment  that  remains  little-­‐known.  This  session  will  provide  information  on  the  most  recent  studies  on  doing  business  in  Azerbaijan,  outlining  how  the  country  is  now  welcoming  foreign  investors  and  companies,  and  undertaking  numerous  internal  reforms  to  ensure  legislation  is  commensurate  with  international  standards.      

11:15–11:30  

Coffee  break  

11:30–12:45  

SESSION  2  :  Economic  diversification  as  a  priority  –  Azerbaijan,  the  new  market  of  the  South  Caucasus    Azerbaijan  is  dynamically  diversifying  its  economy  away  from  overreliance  on  the  oil  and  gas  sectors.  This  session  will  focus  on  the  Azerbaijani  strategy  of  economic  diversification,  and  will  consider  the  key  sectors  in  which  the  country  is  investing,  including  transportation,  ICT,  petrochemicals,  pharmaceuticals,  agriculture,  food-­‐processing  and  infrastructure.      

12:45–  14:00  

Lunch  break  (standing)  Short  presentation  of  the  European  Games  Baku  2015    

14:00–15:30  

SESSION  3  :  Energy  and  environmental  co-­‐operation  with  Azerbaijan  –  from  hydrocarbons  to  alternative  energy  resources      Azerbaijan  is  renowned  for  its  extensive  oil  and  gas  resources,  and  will  soon  make  an  important  contribution  to  EU  energy  security,  supplying  gas  to  mainland  Europe  through  the  Southern  Corridor.  This  session  will  provide  invaluable  information  on  the  current  status  of  the  Trans-­‐Adriatic  Pipeline  (TAP)  and  Trans-­‐Anatolian  Pipeline  (TANAP)  projects,  which  should  become  operational  in  2018–19.  Conversely,  Azerbaijan  is  blessed  with  solar,  wind  and  wave  energy,  and  has  great  potential  to  diversify  its  energy  resources.  French  companies  could  assist  by  exporting  their  technologies  and  expertise  regarding  the  renewable  energy  generation  technologies.  However,  Azerbaijan  could  also  implement  measures  aimed  at  optimising  energy  efficiency  and  improving  waste  management.  The  country  is  also  now  considering  the  construction  of  reactors  to  produce  civil  nuclear  energy.  This  session  will  explore  these  options.        

15:30–15:45    

Conclusions  

   

 Closing