DCO ready to assist Azerbaijani startups in entering international markets

The Digital Cooperation Organization (DCO) is ready to explore mechanisms to support Azerbaijani startups, including attracting international investment and helping them enter the markets of DCO member states, DCO Secretary-General Deemah Al Yahya told Report in an interview.

"Absolutely. Supporting innovators to access investment and new markets is already an important part of what we do," she said.

According to Al Yahya, the DCO implements a number of initiatives designed to create opportunities for startups and technology companies in member states. Among them, she highlighted the Digital FDI Initiative, which is tailored to each country's economy, investment environment and national priorities.

Al Yahya said the approach had already demonstrated potential in Pakistan. According to her, the DCO's work under the Digital FDI initiative helped build an investment opportunity portfolio worth more than $700 million and identify practical measures to connect local companies with international investors and strengthen the investment environment.

"For Azerbaijan, we can explore how these capabilities can best support Azerbaijani startups, from attracting international investment and building investor connections to opening pathways into markets across the DCO community," the secretary-general said.

She emphasized that a specific support model should be developed jointly with Azerbaijan, taking into account entrepreneurs' needs and the government's priorities.

"Our goal is to help Azerbaijani innovators access the capital, partnerships, and markets they need to scale beyond their borders," Al Yahya added.

The full text of the interview is available here.