UN ready to help Azerbaijani businesses compete globally

The United Nations is ready to help Azerbaijani businesses compete successfully in a rapidly changing global economy, the UN's new Resident Coordinator in Azerbaijan, Dmytro Shlapachenko, said.

According to Report, he made the remarks at a roundtable held as part of Baku Climate Action Week 2026 (BCAW 2026).

Shlapachenko said the UN Global Compact Country Network can help accelerate innovation, facilitate partnerships and promote knowledge sharing.

"The question is no longer whether climate action and competitiveness go together. Increasingly, they are the same thing. The businesses that will succeed in the coming decade will be those that view climate action not as a cost, but as an opportunity to innovate, invest, grow and build resilience," he said.

He added that the UN country team is ready to work with the Azerbaijani government, the private sector and other partners to turn this opportunity into reality.

According to Shlapachenko, the UN Global Compact provides companies with a practical platform to strengthen responsible business practices, advance sustainability and climate action, and connect with a global network of peers and partners.

He noted that Azerbaijan already has an active country network of 62 participating companies, providing a strong foundation for further expansion.

"Our next step will be to broaden this platform, mobilize more business leaders and strengthen collective action. After this week, I will reach out to various companies and try to persuade them to join the network," he said.

Shlapachenko also stressed that climate action is essential for business resilience, noting that climate-related risks are already affecting supply chains, infrastructure, logistics and operations worldwide.

He said companies that understand and manage these risks are better positioned to protect their assets, ensure business continuity and respond to an increasingly uncertain operating environment.

The UN recognizes the central role of businesses in this transition, he added.

Under the new UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework for Azerbaijan for 2026-2030, Shlapachenko said the organization is committed not only to supporting policy development and industrial capacity, but also to creating platforms and partnerships that enable the private sector to contribute to and benefit from the country's sustainable development agenda.