AFchamber - Azerbaijan-France Chamber of Commerce

12/12/2025

29/10/2025

Exploring the Art of Winemaking – AFChamber Wine Tour at Merit Brands.

On 25 October, members of the Azerbaijan–France Chamber of Commerce came together for our third Wine Tour, enjoying a day of networking, learning, and discovery.
We extend our sincere thanks to all our members who joined us and made this event a success through their active participation and enthusiasm.

The tour took us to the beautiful Merit Brands winery in Siyazan, where participants visited the vineyards, explored the production process, and gained insights into local winemaking traditions. The day concluded with a curated lunch and a tasting of five distinct Merit Brands white, rosé, and red wines, showcasing the quality and diversity of Azerbaijani wines.
Our special appreciation goes to Merit Brands for their warm hospitality and for sharing their expertise and passion for winemaking with our members.

✨ Stay tuned for our upcoming events!

28/10/2025

Applications for “Best Managed Companies Azerbaijan 2026” are now officially open for submission! 📢
The prestigious “Best Managed Companies Azerbaijan 2026” business competition, implemented in partnership between PAŞA Bank, one of Azerbaijan’s leading corporate financial institutions, and Deloitte Azerbaijan, has been officially launched.
The program aims to recognize the country’s best-performing private companies and promote the adoption of outstanding management practices across Azerbaijan’s business community. Developed by Deloitte Private, the “Best Managed Companies” initiative is one of the world’s leading international programs dedicated to supporting excellence in private sector management.
First launched in Canada in 1993, the program has grown into a globally recognized award and is now implemented in 46 countries, including China, the United States, Southeast Asia, the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, Denmark, the Czech Republic, Italy, Sweden, Norway, Türkiye, Mexico, and Chile.
In Azerbaijan, the program has been held since 2021, with nearly 50 companies having participated to date and 11 companies awarded the title of “Best Managed Company Azerbaijan.” Among the winners are Araz Supermarket chain, AVRORA Group, Azerconnect Group, Bridge Group of Companies,
Embawood, NORM Cement (two-time winner), SƏBA, OBA Market, Veysəloğlu Group of Companies (two-time winner), METAK (four-time winner and Gold Award laureate), and Azərsun Holding.
If your company demonstrates strong leadership, strategic vision, and a sustainable business model, this is your opportunity to join the ranks of the country’s best-managed organizations. Share your success story, gain international recognition, and strengthen your company’s reputation.

Applications are open from October 23, 2025, until December 5, 2025.

🔹 For more information, click here: https://url-shortener.me/84SG
🔹 To apply, click here: https://url-shortener.me/84SJ

22/10/2025

🔒 Cybersecurity Dialogue with Thales
📅 29 October 2025 | 09:00 – 14:00
📍 Four Seasons Hotel Baku, Shur Room

The Azerbaijan–France Chamber of Commerce is pleased to host the upcoming Cybersecurity Dialogue with Thales Cybersecurity Products, bringing together experts from the government, banking, and telecom sectors to explore the latest developments in data protection, digital resilience, and security innovation.

🔻 We are honored to welcome distinguished speakers from Thales Cybersecurity Products who will share their expertise and regional insights:

🔹 Natalya Lebedeva – Regional Representative, Caucasus and Central Asia, Thales Cybersecurity Solutions.
With over 15 years of experience in IT and digital transformation, Natalia will present insights on personal data protection, collaboration with regulators, and enterprise compliance.
🔹 Waleed Marji – Regional Manager, Identity & Access Management Portfolio, Thales.
A keynote speaker with over 16 years of experience in cybersecurity, Waleed will discuss identity and access management trends and share success stories from across the META and CIS regions.
🔹 Konstantin Abramov – Application and Data Security Sales Engineer, Thales.
With over a decade of experience in networking and cybersecurity, Konstantin will speak on data protection and regulatory frameworks in Central Asia, providing an overview of Thales’ application and data security solutions.

🌐 Simultaneous translation (English–Azerbaijani) will be provided to ensure all participants can fully engage in the discussion.
This event offers an excellent platform for dialogue among cybersecurity professionals, regulators, and business leaders.

🔗 Participation is by invitation only:
https://url-shortener.me/7PG4

16/10/2025

🇦🇿🤝🇫🇷 A New Chapter in Azerbaijan–France Relations

On October 16, President Ilham Aliyev received the credentials of Sophie Lagoutte, the new Ambassador of France to Azerbaijan.
Both sides highlighted the start of a new era of cooperation, strengthening ties in business, technology, culture, and energy, and promoting greater people-to-people and corporate connections.
As AFchamber, we look forward to supporting this renewed partnership and creating more opportunities for collaboration between the Azerbaijani and French business communities.

16/10/2025

Wine Tour Alert: 9 Days Left! 🥂

Time is running out! Join the AFchamber for an unforgettable
wine tour to Merit Brands Winery in Siyazan on October 25, 2025.

The tour includes:
- Trip to Siyazan;
- A tasting of 6 unique wines;
- A lunch in the vineyard.

Ticket price: 145 AZN/person

Registration closes October 22, 2025.
Link: forms.gle/brJfWQWMHmre578c7

Spots are filling fast. Secure your place now❗️

15/10/2025

📢 Save the Date!

The AFchamber General Meeting will be held on 5 December 2025.
This important gathering will feature the election of eight new Board Members and provide a platform for our members to help shape the Chamber’s future.

For additional information: [email protected]

14/10/2025

🔒 Cybersecurity Dialogue with Thales

📅 29 October 2025, 09:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. | Four Seasons Hotel, Baku

The Azerbaijan–France Chamber of Commerce (AFchamber) is pleased to announce the upcoming Cybersecurity Dialogue with Thales, bringing together leading experts from government, banking, and telecom sectors.
During the event, Thales specialists will present the latest trends in cybersecurity, share regional practices, and foster an open dialogue with industry professionals on enhancing digital resilience and security.
Participation is by invitation only, with limited space available for registered cybersecurity specialists.

👉 Register until October 27th here to request your invitation: https://engage-cybersec.thalesgroup.com/2025-thales-afchamber-reg.html
🤝 A valuable opportunity to exchange insights and strengthen collaboration on one of today’s most critical business challenges.

13/10/2025

On October 9, the AFchamber Human and Education Committee hosted a Business Breakfast at Ibis Baku City Hotel, dedicated to the topic "AI in the Workforce: Case Studies from Azerbaijan."

This exchange of ideas was attended by top professionals from the fields of HR, education, and technology who discussed how artificial intelligence is changing the workforce and human capital development in Azerbaijan. The event started with AFchamber board member Emin Bagirov's opening remarks on the importance of such discussions among HR professionals, followed by the opening remarks of Human Capital Development and Education committee head Tarana Gurbanova, highlighting the importance of the discussion of AI tools among academia, business, and other practitioners.

🎙 We would particularly like to thank our keynote speakers:
Martin Godon – Secretary General, French-Azerbaijani University (UFAZ)
Sevinj Hasanova – HR Expert
Mubariz Shahbazli – Co-founder of Hirpo & Managing Partner at BERC

🤝 The event was open to both member and non-member companies and served as an excellent stage for presenting actual case studies and engaging in discussions on future trends.

05/10/2025

🟥 Last 4 days to register to Business Breakfast on the theme:

" in the Workforce: Case Studies from ”

Our guest speaker will be Mubariz Shahbazli — a founder, advisor, and innovation enthusiast, actively contributing to the and startup ecosystem in Azerbaijan. He is Co-founder of Hirpo, an AI-powered HRTech platform, and the Managing Partner at BERC - İnsan Kapitalı Mərkəzi.

He studied at UNEC, earned an MBA from ADA University, and completed a Global MBA at Tel Aviv University. His mission is to empower organizations through digital transformation, people-centric solutions, and entrepreneurial growth.

📅 Date: 9 October 2025, 10:00
📍 Venue: Ibis Baku City Hotel

This event is open to both member and non-member companies.

For registration, please use the link:
https://lnkd.in/ef5kUAJk

03/10/2025

🟥 Last 6 days to register!

Dear Members and Partners,

The AFchamber Human and Education Committee is pleased to invite you to our upcoming Business Breakfast on the theme: “ in the Workforce: Case Studies from ”

Our guest speaker will be Mubariz Shahbazli — a founder, advisor, and innovation enthusiast, actively contributing to the and startup ecosystem in Azerbaijan. He is Co-founder of Hirpo, an AI-powered HRTech platform, and the Managing Partner at BERC - İnsan Kapitalı Mərkəzi.

He studied at UNEC, earned an MBA from ADA University, and completed a Global MBA at Tel Aviv University. His mission is to empower organizations through digital transformation, people-centric solutions, and entrepreneurial growth.

📅 Date: 9 October 2025, 10:00

📍 Venue: Ibis Baku City Hotel

This event is open to both member and non-member companies.

For registration, please use the link:

https://lnkd.in/ef5kUAJk

02/10/2025