Philip Morris International: Azerbaijan building modern economy

Azerbaijan is building a modern economy driven by knowledge and scientific progress, bringing development and prosperity, Alexey Kim, Director of External Relations for the CIS at Philip Morris International, said at the Technovation Forum in Baku under the theme Resilience and Energy Transformation, Report informs.

Kim also mentioned that the country has undergone such a deep economic and institutional transformation that many in both East and West can only aspire to it: "Azerbaijan has proven not in words but in deeds that it is open to change and transformation. Of course, energy resources have played a major role since the early 20th century. But energy production, while being a powerful engine, is also an engine of innovation - requiring scale, complexity, and urgency. The country's leaders saw that advanced technology could be developed far beyond natural resources, shaping sectors from healthcare to infrastructure, and later even clean energy transformation, for the benefit of all."

The director added that Azerbaijan and its ambitions deserve admiration: "With a very clear vision – visible to every citizen and every company operating in the country – Azerbaijan is transforming from a resource-rich nation into a more diversified, knowledge-intensive economy and an innovation-driven hub."