11:18 - 18.06.2025

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June 18, Fineko/abc.az. The International Finance Corporation (IFC) identifies three key sectors with high potential for attracting private investment in Azerbaijan - agriculture, water security and sustainable construction, ABC.AZ reports, quoting Ivana Fernandez Duarte, IFC's regional manager for the South Caucasus.

According to the IFC representative, the Corporation, together with the government of Azerbaijan, is implementing innovative financial instruments in agriculture, including agricultural and warehouse receipts.

«In agriculture, we are working with the government to introduce innovative financing tools like crop receipts and warehouse receipts, enabling small farmers to access working capital by using future harvests or stored crops as collateral. This approach aims to integrate farmers into global value chains, support growth, and stimulate rural employment,» Duarter emphasized.

IFC considers the development of sustainable construction to be its third priority. In the construction sector, IFC is actively supporting the government's green building initiatives, which offer both financial and environmental benefits to companies. For example, the AlatBay Logistics Center, located within the Alat Free Economic Zone, successfully completed the design, construction, and audit stages of EDGE - an innovative green building certification system developed by IFC - and has been awarded the EDGE Advanced certificate. Through these efforts, the center has reduced its energy use by over 40 percent and water consumption by over 25 percent. This is a practical confirmation of how sustainable solutions can be economically justified,” she stressed.

According to Duarte, additionally, we are exploring investment opportunities in transport, logistics, and e-mobility to support Azerbaijan’s efforts to enhance sustainability and connectivity.