Azerbaijan to leverage "Made in Italy" experience for export growth

The role of "Made in Italy" in boosting Azerbaijan's export potential was discussed at a recent session in Baku, with experts highlighting the importance of international branding efforts.

Yusif Abdullayev, Executive Director of Azerbaijan Export and Investment Promotion Agency (AZPROMO), addressed a session presenting the joint master's programme in "Global Management and Policy" (GMAP) by School of Business at ADA University and LUISS University, Caliber.Az reports via local media.

The session, which saw participation from representatives of various government bodies, explored opportunities for promoting the "Made in Azerbaijan" brand on the global stage. 

Abdullayev emphasized the efforts made to raise awareness of Azerbaijan's brand internationally, stating, "'Made in Italy' will play an important role in increasing Azerbaijan's export potential, and the educational programme in collaboration with ADA University will make a significant contribution in this area."

Elkin Nurmammadov, Vice-Rector for Academic Affairs at ADA University, highlighted the importance of this initiative in enhancing the global competitiveness of Azerbaijani products.

The session also featured insights from Professor Marco Mazzu, a LUISS University expert in marketing practices, and Professor Carlo Fei, a specialist in luxury management.

They shared their experiences of Italy's successful brand strategies, emphasizing the value of knowledge gained through the "Made in Azerbaijan" programme to strengthen the national brand in international markets.

Meanwhile, the inaugural products under the "Made in Turan" brand, representing goods from Turkic-speaking nations, were unveiled at an e-commerce and export forum in Baku. The announcement was made by Jamid Movsumov, Chairman of the Azerbaijan Franchise Association, who highlighted the brand's goal to introduce high-quality products, including food, non-food goods, and services, to the market.

Launched by Azerbaijan in 2024 in Kazakhstan, the "Made in Turan" initiative aims to unite the trademarks of Turkic countries. It will feature a unified product labelling system for member states of the Organization of Turkic States (OTS). Movsumov emphasized that the initiative is a key step toward strengthening trade relations within the Turkic world and boosting the global visibility of these brands.

The OTS, which comprises over 200 million people, is expanding its cooperation across various sectors. With a combined trade turnover of $536 billion and a GDP of $1.5 trillion, the OTS is strategically positioned along the historic Silk Road, enhancing its role in global trade.

By Aghakazim Guliyev