Joint support network for export development from Finland, Estonia, Latvia to Azerbaijan.

Programme 2021 - 2027 Interreg VI-A Finland-Estonia-Latvia-Sweden (Central Baltic)

Date of latest update: 2025-01-21

Description

Description (EN):

The project LEF network Azerbaijan's vision is to increase innovations and the bio-economy of the region by exporting services, know-how and goods to Azerbaijan. As a result, the Central Baltic region will be more sustainable and competitive. The joint challenge is that Azerbaijan is specific due to market needs, language and business culture. For enterprises market entry individually is much harder than cooperating jointly with other enterprises and business support organisations. As a result export to the 3rd countries will be achieved faster and in a more effective way. The project LEF network Azerbaijan aims to achieve 10 sales agreements during 36 months between Finland's, Estonia's and Latvia's mature SMEs and Azerbaijan. Based on small research matching demand and offers are the ICT sector, Green technologies, education - higher and lifelong, interior design as service and interior design products. The main tasks of the project are: - develop joint support - service platform for export development from Finland, Estonia and Latvia to Azerbaijan. - to implement The Export development programme, which consists of WP1 Market analysis & export knowledge and WP2 Export performance & regional image building. Main export activities will be trade missions both to Azerbaijan, and to LEF countries, B2B events (incl. online), training. - to provide reasonable services as non-financial support at least for 50 enterprises from the CB region.

Actual Achievements (EN):

LEF network Azerbaijan started quickly with the most important activity - market research, network building and planning in detail upcoming project activities. The main focus for the project team was on quality, relevance of the partners in Azerbaijan and detailed strategy planning for each activity as the activity list in the time plan will be intense in 2024 and 2025. The project activities could be divided into 3 main pillars: 1. Management: - Partner meeting in Riga, Latvia 2-3.5.2023. - Partner meeting in Pori, Finland, 22.-23.8.2023. - Steering Group meeting, online, 31.8.2023. - Online meetings, MS Teams platform for teamwork, common WhatsApp group etc. 2. Implementation WP1: - Business visit to Baku for research and network building, 23.-30.3.3023. - drafting all main technical requirements for making calls for offers - opening the calls for services: joint market research - agreement phase, webinars: announcement phase; sales representative - open call, looking for offers. - scope and technical needs for the exportcluster.eu page, development process. - scoped joint approach for roadmaps, videos, open education resources etc. - setting concrete activity plan for 2nd period - trade mission, business forum, webinars, research, work with companies etc. - shortlisted companies, who are ready to work for export development in the Azerbaijan - selected the group for a trade mission to Azerbaijan - provided consultations to the companies based on existing experience of LCCI. - During the reporting period SAMK prepared a presentation about country’s competitiveness and collected Information about the country’s relationship with Azerbaijan. Also, SAMK has started preparation for the organising the process of creating an overview of what is trending in the industries and what motivates the users to make a decision to convert and buy and description of the business environment in Azerbaijan. - desktop research about the Azerbaijan markets and business culture, which has been used acquiring partners and also will be published in our open education web-page; gathering questions from the potential companies and preparing price request for sectoral and product specific market research; planning content for educational online export-webinars. - all 3 countries partner organizations started to cooperate and communicate with National authorities - Embassies, Ministries of Foreigh affairs etc. WP2 - Agenda was drafed for 1st Trade mission. - selection of the targeted companies for participation in the 1st mission. - selection of the service providers for 1st trade mission. 3. Communication - A3 poster presented at the partners organizations. - presented information about the project in the partner home pages - PR presentation about the project prepared - trained and informed the team about communication guidelines, set by the CB programme - meetings with local and Azerbaijan stakeholders to present the project - an action plan for communication on the process. - participating in public events, which are organized by the Azerbaijan Embassy in Latvia. - meetings with companies and introducing them to the project, also informed LCCI Members, the Export and the Policy departments about project aims and activities. Based on planning, research and networking activities, the project team has a confident.

Project outputs: Enterprises received service packages (EN)
SMEs introducing marketing or organizational innovations(EN)
Enterprises participating in trade missions (EN)

Thematic information

Clustering and economic cooperation

Priority: (VI-A_CB_P1) Innovative business development

Priority specific objective: RSO1.3. Enhancing sustainable growth and competitiveness of SMEs and job creation in SMEs, including by productive investments

Priority policy objective (Interreg specific objective): PO1 A more competitive and smarter Europe by promoting innovative and smart economic transformation and regional ICT connectivity

Type of intervention: 021 SME business development and internationalisation, including productive investments

Partners (3)

Lead Partner: Latvijas Tirdzniecības un rūpniecības kamera

Partner’s ID if not PIC: LV40003081501

Department: EU project department, Export division

Address: Kr. Valdemāra street, LV-1010 Riga, Latvia

Department address: Kr. Valdemāra street, LV - 1010 Riga, Latvia

Legal status: private

Organisation type: Business support organisation

Website: http://www.ltrk.lv

Total budget: EUR 456 816.20

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 365 452.96

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 80.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 91 363.24

Contractors:

Name: Caspian Energy Club Internatio
VAT registration or tax identification number: 1506442851

Satakunnan Ammattikorkeakoulu

Name: Satakunnan Ammattikorkeakoulu

Department: Business Intelligence Center, BIC

Partner’s ID if not PIC: FI23889244

Address: Satakunnankatu, 28130 Pori, Finland

Department address: Satakunnankatu, 28130 Pori, Finland

Legal status: public

Organisation type: Higher education and research organisations

Website: http://www.samk.fi/en

Total budget: EUR 442 412.80

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 353 930.24

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 80.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 88 482.56

Eesti Kaubandus-Tööstuskoda

Name: Eesti Kaubandus-Tööstuskoda

Department: Department of Services

Partner’s ID if not PIC: EE100559448

Address: Toom Kooli , 10130 Tallinn, Estonia

Department address: Toom Kooli, 10130 Tallinn, Estonia

Legal status: private

Organisation type: Business support organisation

Website: http://www.koda.ee

Total budget: EUR 365 708.80

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 292 567.04

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 80.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 73 141.76

Partners map

Partners and Projects info

Latvian Chamber of Commerce and Industry

Joint support network for export development from Finland, Estonia, Latvia to Azerbaijan.

Partners and Projects info

Satakunta University of Applied Sciences

Joint support network for export development from Finland, Estonia, Latvia to Azerbaijan.

Partners and Projects info

Estonian Chamber of Commerce and Industry

Joint support network for export development from Finland, Estonia, Latvia to Azerbaijan.

Lead partner

Project partner

Summary

Project name (EN): Joint support network for export development from Finland, Estonia, Latvia to Azerbaijan.

Project acronym: LEF network Azerbaijan

Project ID: CB0100049

Project start date: 2023-03-01

Project end date: 2026-02-28

Project status: ongoing

Relevant linked projects:

LCCI: European Enterprise Network (EEN) -LCCI is a new partner organization in EEN since 2022. The Enterprise Europe Network helps businesses innovate and grow on an international scale. It is the world’s largest support network for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) with international ambitions. (EN) | The Enterprise Europe Network covers more than 600 organizations in 52 countries in Europe and across the world, including China, Japan, South Korea, the USA, Turkey and many others. New members are joining the network continuously, confirming that the Network is expanding rapidly and successfully.
The project will be supported also by EEN services and networks when it will be necessary. (EN), LCCI / SAMK / ECCI: LEF network to China, Interreg Central Baltic programme. Project is closed. (EN) | LEF Network to China has been designed and conducted with the aim of helping firms involved in the wood sector to enter the Chinese market. Woodworking is the most competitive sector in the CB region and the common challenge is to develop wood interior design industry product export to China by developing a joint corporation network and activities, the reason for which partners from Latvia, Estonia and Finland (LEF) have contacted both with China and industry companies and have experience in export organization, which will ensure the quality of activities. The members of the Network have the opportunity to be involved directly in main projects activities in China and are supported by practical and concrete preparations. Among these, there is training and market search with long term impact, but also, and most importantly, entrepreneur members are supported concretely to develop real exports through contact matchmaking events, expo visits, expo participation with booth and trade mission, proof of the quality and success of the project LEF to China.
The synergy between LEF network to China and LEF network to Azerbaijan is based on export service provision, wide experience and the team's inner power to deal with business organizations and entrepreneurs in different cultures. It sounds emotional, but it is a huge issue if we speak about export projects and doing business in 3rd countries. Economic relationships, history and business culture are a topics, that organizations need to take seriously (EN), SAMK / LCCI: SME Aisle, Interreg Central Baltic programme. Project is on closing phase. (EN) | SME Aisle project objective is to support SMEs from Central Baltic with ambition and potential to enter into new markets in Southern Africa using Namibia as a stable entry point. Sectors are shipbuilding, maritime and logistics, renewable energy, automation and ICT.
Project activities:
Market research and analysis;
Contact making trips to Namibia and other countries in the South African region;
Organization of incoming visits to prospective clients and cooperation partners from Namibia and other countries in the South African region;
Training, informational and practical support for companies interested in the South African market.
The synergy between both projects is based on the representation of the same sectors: Green technologies, ICT. Also, lessons to learn from the SME Aisle project is taken to LEF network Azerbaijan project for developing and organizing export support to the enterprises for new market entry. (EN), LCCI: Latvian Export Cluster, ERAF. Project is ongoing. (EN) | LCCI as manager of Latvian Export Cluster will make synergy by updating the existing home page of the Cluster with other relevant export project materials, outputs and information. A wider target audience will be achieved for the project.
The mission of the Latvian Export Cluster is to improve export and quality support tools in collaboration with other organisations to promote export capacities, sustainability and competitiveness of small and medium enterprises.
Objective:
To encourage cooperation among businesses and research and knowledge transfer organisations in the field of export, increasing the competitiveness of businesses and the proportion of high added-value products and services in export, as well as innovation and development of new products.
Key areas of activity:
Increasing competitiveness in international markets with a knowledge-based approach to export planning and strategy development and through justified and well-considered international marketing events;
Quality management solutions both in relation to the finished goods and the processes within the company at various stages of economic activity;
Improving the productivity to ensure higher competitiveness of the product/service;
Development of export companies in the field of Smart Specialisation that will provide products for export markets with higher added value.
The Latvian Export Cluster has the European Cluster Excellence Initiative Bronze level. (EN), LCCI: Development of competitiveness in key non-oil manufacturing sectors of the economy of the Republic of Azerbaijan, financed by EU Delegation in Azerbaijan. Project is closed.
Short description:
The revenue from the oil sector plays a dominant role in Azerbaijan’s GDP, it lacks an element of sustainability, thus, having a negative effect on the country’s economy if there is a decrease in oil prices. Thus, the main objective of this project to develop competitiveness in key non-oil manufacturing sectors of the economy of the Republic of Azerbaijan, where the target is to increase the share of the non-oil sector in GDP up to 80% by the year 2020, as well as to strengthen public/private dialogue (PPD) with the selected sectors of the manufacturing industry.
The main beneficiary of this project will be the Department of industry of the Ministry of Economy of the Republic of Azerbaijan.
To achieve planned goals, the project will focus on 4 components:
1. To enable creation and functioning of professional business associations in selected sectors;
2. To carry out pre-feasibility studies of selected pilot sectors of manufacturing industries;
3. To propose changes in pertinent legislation to enable the market economy to function more efficiently;
4. To improve skills among project public and private stakeholders for the development of PPD and good business practices.
The implementation of the project will propose changes inappropriate legislation with the aim of simplifying administrative procedures, reducing the costs of doing business and encouraging non-oil industry businesses to have a significant role in substitution of imported products as well as in increased export trade, enhancing dialogue between public and private stakeholders and select pilot sectors for further development of the manufacturing industry.
Ultimately, the achievement of the project objectives will stimulate investment and modernization of Azerbaijani enterprises. (EN) |
The synergy between both projects is very strong because LCCI has developed important contacts in Azerbaijan (Azpromo, Ministry of Economics of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Employer's confederation of Azerbaijan, AHK German - Azerbaijan chamber, sectoral business support organizations), which can be meaningful useful also for the B2B project. The first project was more focused on the support between social partners and the government. This project would provide logical continue for helping companies in the new market entry in Azerbaijan.
Important to note, that also LCCI has deep know-how about doing things in Azerbaijan in a business environment and their business culture.
All the contacts, know-how will be used on daily basis for LEF network Azerbaijan. (EN), LCCI: East Invest and East Invest 2, subcontractors in EUROCHAMBRES managed project. (EN) | In 2016, the project supported EU Eastern Partnership cooperation activities like trade missions, study tours, raising awareness events. Technically synergy is quite small, meanwhile based on the East Invest projects, cooperation with Azerbaijan AHK was build and incoming, outdoing trade missions between both countries were organized. The East Invest project build first contacts and steps for starting cooperation with Azerbaijan. Therefor synergy, actually, is ongoing since 2016. (EN), ECCI: GOOSE - Generating international public procurement (EN) | ECCI is a partner in project GOOSE (COSME), which is supporting European SMEs to participate in public procurement outside EU. GOOSE offers specialized tools and expert mentoring for European SMEs to build their capacity to successfully access international public procurement opportunities in targeted markets: Japan, Norway, Serbia, Chile, Colombia and Vietnam. During the project, partners organize training sessions, joint missions abroad, networking days and mentoring services. In the GOOSE project, ECCI is the lead partner for WP Communication and Dissemination, which is ensuring effective external communication to achieve change and successful dissemination of project progress. ECCI is responsible for creating marketing and communication strategy, project web platform and virtual tool.
Synergy will be based on know-how about public procurements in 3rd markets. Public procurements are quite an important topic also for Azerbaijan and this know-how will be useful for the project target group. Azerbaijan is quite a specific country if we speak about dealing with the government. Meanwhile, participation of the government is important for doing business there. (EN), ECCI: member of the Enterprise Europe Network being coordinator for ESTINNO-NET Consortium in Estonia. Enterprise Europe Network, framework agreement 2015-2021 and 2022-2025, and specific grant agreements, ESTINNO-NET and ESTINNO-NET2, EEN ESTONIA, COSME. The main overall objective of the project is to provide European added-value services that help to increase the competitiveness and innovative capacities of Estonian SMEs, complementing to and operating in synergy with the other existing national SME support structures and schemes. (EN) | The Enterprise European Network is a service that aims to offer companies with international ambitions practical information for expanding their business by overcoming statal borders and growing on an international scale. ECCI has supported through EEN more than 1000 Estonian SMEs. The long experience as a member of the EEN has allowed the ECCI to develop and refine its own competencies in the field of partner searching and cooperation between foreign companies. In particular, ECCI, thanks to the work done for EEN, is a pillar and reference point for Estonian companies in finding possible future partners by organizing matchmaking business events and providing reliable information regarding target countries, both UE and non-UE, to entrepreneurs.
The project will be supported also by EEN services and networks when it will be necessary.
(EN)

Total budget/expenditure: EUR 1 264 937.80

Total EU funding (amount): EUR 1 011 950.24

Total EU funding (co-financing rate): 80.00%

Co-financing sources:

ERDF: Amount, EUR 1 011 950.24. Co-financing rate, 80.00%.

Investments, deliverables, policy contributions

(bullets are inserted automatically and may be incorrectly placed)

Deliverables:

General market research
Sectoral and product-specific market research
Pre-entry market research
Enterprise roadmaps
Recordings of webinars
exportcluster.eu section: Azerbaijan
Enterprises receiving non-financial support: report about given consultations.
CB region promotional events in Azerbaijan
CB region promotional events in Azerbaijan
CB region promotional events in Azerbaijan
The CB promotional videos.
Trade mission 1, result report
Trade mission 2, the result report
Trade mission 3, the result report
Trade mission 4, the result report
Trade mission 5, the result report
Trade mission 6, the result report
Incoming trade mission 1, the result report
Incoming trade mission 2, the result report
Incoming trade mission 3, the result report
Short report about the readiness of the enterprises for the trade mission AFTER it.
Central Baltic & Azerbaijan business conference 1
Central Baltic & Azerbaijan business conference 2
Central Baltic & Azerbaijan business conference 3

Contribution to wider strategies and policies:

EUStrategyBalticSeaRegion Project contribution will be in those EUSBSR policy areas: Bioeconomy and Innovation.
Innovation.
‘Innovation’ aims at promoting global competitiveness and growth of the Baltic Sea region through support for entrepreneurship, business development, science and increased innovation capacity. The project LEF network
Azerbaijan will provide full contribution to the PA Innovation by:
- CB regional image building in Azerbaijan (Regional image building)
- Competitiveness development and growth of the CB region companies by know-how increase about doing business in Azerbaijan and their markets. Market analysis and Export knowledge.
- Digitalization will be a horizontal principle and will be used within project activities as well - online partner meetings, B2B meetings, training.
- joint knowledge shared between partners, enterprises will be highly used for organizing market entry activities in Azerbaijan.
- At last, we would like to mention also challenge build innovations because both partner organizations and enterprises will be necessary to adapt products and services based on Azerbaijan's market needs. Definitely, there will be challenges, that will request joint innovations.
Bioeconomy includes also bio-based business, innovations, R&D. The bioeconomy is complex and cuts across sectors. Meanwhile, there is a clear role of such sectors as green and smart technologies, ICT as drivers for innovations in bioeconomy. Mentioned sectors are target sectors of receiving export development support for new market entry activities in Azerbaijan. If those CB companies will have export, they will grow much faster also in the region. The environmental macro impact will be provided by export from the CB region to Azerbaijan.
Other Satakunta Regional Development Plan 2050
Satakunta Regional Programme 2022-2025
Regional Smart Specialisation Strategy (RIS3) 2021-2027
The cross-sectoral objective of internationalisation is one of the focuses in the Regional Development Programme Satakunta 2050. Developing the smart specialisation centres and ecosystems and new innovations of the county promotes international partnerships of the Satakunta business, and research and education organisations. As one of the obstacles to develop the region, resources for internationalisation are found insufficient. LEF network Azerbaijan will contribute to this directly increasing the opportunities and volume of international contacts, communication and cooperation.
The main goal in the international activities in the Satakunta Regional Programme 2022-2025 is to support the focal objective in increasing and supporting the competitiveness and vitality of the Satakunta region. The international aspect completes the priorities in regional development with added value offering opportunities especially in fields with which Satakunta has smart specialisation. LEF network Azerbaijan will contribute the regional programme with establishing relations with a new target market in the Mid-East. This may compensate eastern partnerships former being considered as traditional, but today with higher threshold to execute.
Other “Estonia 2035” development strategy
https://valitsus.ee/en/estonia-2035-development-stategy/strategy/strategic-goals
The “Estonia 2035” strategy sets out five long-term strategic goals that are based on the base principles. Strategic goals are value-based goals that are the basis for making the country’s strategic choices and to the implementation of which all Estonian strategic development documents contribute. They are also taken into account in the state budget strategy and in the preparation of the government’s action programme.
One of the strategic goals is that Estonian economy is strong and internationally competitive and finds new business opportunities. The Estonian economy is flexible and ready for structural changes, offering development opportunities in all its regions.
The Estonian economy is innovative and knowledge-based, using new technologies and business models and flexible forms of employment. Favourable conditions have been created for R&D and innovation in private sector, and researchers and companies are co-operating.
The Estonian economy is responsible towards people and nature. It's secure economic environment favours flexible, innovative and responsible entrepreneurship and fair competition. Valorisation of local resources has increased and the use of natural resources takes into account both biodiversity conservation and the socio-economic impacts.
The project activities help to find new business opportunities to companies and thus strengthen the companies, diminish business risks related to having only a few nearby markets as export targets and increase competitiveness of the companies internationally.
Other Finland implements its national strategy of supporting foreign trade, especially exports, through the following institutions:
Team Finland is a government funded organization which brings together all public internationalization services in Finland. It provides information on market opportunities, advice and training, and financial services, from grants to loans and guarantees. Team Finland enables networking, organizes visits and provides digital platforms for export support.
The Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland has multiple action plans to support Finnish sustainable trade with development countries. Whereas Horizon Europe programme mainly supports mobility around Europe and growth through foreign trade (mainly in Europe), there are strategies and financial instruments aiming more clearly at supporting the global trade opportunities of Finnish companies.
Finnpartnership/Finnfund
The Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland works under the name Finnpartnership in order to promote a sustainable development impact by supporting business development between Finland and developing countries. The core actions of Finnpartnership are Business Partnership Support and Matchmaking. Finnpartnership and Finnfund also provide financial support for joint ventures between Finnish and developing country partners.
LEF network Azerbaijan will contribute to each of the activity by supporting the Finnish national strategy in foreign trade, as well as the national strategy will contribute to the project by offering communication platforms and connections to several different countries, including Middle-East countries.
Other National Development Plan of Latvia for 2021-2027
The growth and competitiveness of companies are based on their ability to create and sell high tech, knowledge-intensive goods and services and to integrate into ever higher value-added global chains. Smart specialization, innovation, technological development and modernization are the basis for productivity growth.
Latvia is transitioning from a low-cost labour economy to a productive export-oriented modern economy. Export in knowledge-intensive bio-economics, biomedicine and bio pharmacy, intelligent materials and engineering systems, information and communication technologies, smart energy and other smart specialization sectors with high levels of investment in R&D has overtaken the export of processed raw materials. Focused instruments enable companies and scientific institutions to succeed in their fields on the international scene. The project will allow Latvian companies to compete in international markets and integrate into global value chains with value-added products, thereby increasing export profitability.
It is important to provide aid not only to already exporting companies but also to create opportunities for new exporters and new export regions by supporting companies in the internationally competitive industry of their products on export markets.
To sum up, the whole project idea is based on export development, which also mainly is focused on sustainable sectors, added-value products.
Other LCCI opinion paper, recommendations: Export and investment attraction. The recommendations are based on 3 main points: Export Support and development tools, Export Cooperation network and Export Evaluation system for outputs and results.
As Export support and development tools recommend creating a simple, transparent and effective export promotion system for companies finding and developing new markets through a private sector initiative to support activities such as export marketing, market research, product and service certification and adaption to the market needs, and individual customer acquisition activities.
As Export Cooperation network is based on cooperation between National public and private stakeholders and organizations, and also includes recommendations to continuously develop an international cooperation network as well.
The project approach and activities have full synergy with those recommendations - export support network, participant evaluation for being ready to the market and project includes also tools - consultations, B2B events, and market research as well.
Other New EU Trade policy: 3 objectives have been captured by the EU Trade Commissioner with three words: OPEN because the EU wants to keep boosting exports. SUSTAINABLE because trade needs to be greener and fairer. ASSERTIVE: because EU is going to better promote the interests of EU businesses in the World Trade Organization (WTO), and make sure imports comply with all EU standards and are not subsidized by third countries.
The project synergies with EU trade policy on 2 aspects - Open: market entry activities, especially in 3rd countries, Sustainable sectors: green technologies, high tech, bioproducts etc.
Other Strategy for Latvia for Mitigation of the Consequences of the Crisis Caused by Covid-19
The short-term objective of the Strategy for Latvia for Mitigation of the Consequences of the Crisis Caused by Covid-19 is to achieve that the negative impact on the economy and business activities is as little as possible, while in the long term to achieve structural changes in the economy based on productivity growth in favour of the development of knowledge-intensive exports of goods and services.
In conditions of the current challenges, it is primarily necessary to stabilise Latvia’s economy while maintaining the strategic course to accelerate the structural shift of the economy based on productivity. This can be achieved by adapting the economy to global trends in a timely manner and by creating new comparative advantages. At the same time, the economic stabilisation phase includes actions aimed at promoting the export capacity and increasing productivity, as well as improving the business environment.
To return to the pre-crisis level as soon as possible and also to exceed it, it is necessary to implement a timely export market competitor anticipation strategy – to support export capable industries with future growth potential.
The project will highly support achieving strategic goals by helping companies on new market entry, to find new contacts, gain knowledge.
Other National Industrial Policy Guidelines 2021-2027 (Latvia)
For continuous development of a sustainable national economy, it is necessary to increase participation in global value chains, it will increase exports and productivity, promote structural changes in the economy in favour of production of the goods and services with greater added value, increasing the role of the industry.
The direction of action in export is a business environment for export capacity (new export markets, increase in export capacity, the best place to start and implement your business plan). Project LEF network Azerbaijan will contribute directly to policy guidelines as its aim is to help companies on new market entry, to find new contacts, gain knowledge etc.
Export productivity increase can be achieved by encouraging the choice of companies in favour of export activities, by facilitating the transition from companies to higher-yielding and higher-capacity activities, and by fostering enterprise-level innovation.
Latvian companies are successfully competing in the international market, as evidenced by the growth of exports and the share of Latvia's exports in the world market. The project will help to engage export activities thus overcoming the barriers posed by new market exploration.
Other EU Eastern Partnership: The Eastern Partnership aims to reinforce the political association and economic integration of six Eastern European and South Caucasus partner countries: Azerbaijan, Georgia, the Republic of Moldova, Ukraine, Armenia. The Eastern Partnership was launched in 2009.
Multilateral cooperation in the Eastern Partnership takes place across a wide array of issues:
- strengthening institutions and good governance, including resilience to external changes;
- developing market opportunities through economic integration and trade agreements;
- ensuring energy security and improving interconnection for energy and transport;
- enhancing mobility and contacts between people with visa dialogue negotiations.
Building on the progress achieved during the first ten years of the EaP, the consultation launched in 2019 identified five long-term policy objectives beyond 2020:
- resilient, sustainable and integrated economies
- accountable institutions, the rule of law and security
- environmental and climate resilience
- digital transformation
- fair and inclusive societies
The objectives were published by the European Commission on 18 March 2020 under the joint communication Eastern Partnership policy beyond 2020: Reinforcing Resilience – an Eastern Partnership that delivers for all.
The project LEF network Azerbaijan contributes widely to the strategy:
- it will increase export from the EU to Azerbaijan;
- it will increase institutional cooperation between the EU and Azerbaijan.
- it will increase environmental and climate resilience by chosen sectors.
- it will support digital transformation through online B2B meetings during direct consultations.
Other The European Union’s relations with Azerbaijan are based on the EU-Azerbaijan Partnership and Cooperation
Agreement in force since 1999. In February 2017, the EU and Azerbaijan began negotiations on a new framework
agreement designed to enhance the political dialogue, trade and mutually beneficial cooperation. Azerbaijan
is a strategic energy partner for the EU and plays a pivotal role in bringing Caspian energy resources to
the EU market. In 2018, the EU and Azerbaijan endorsed joint Partnership Priorities, along the four Eastern
Partnership priorities that guide our political dialogue and cooperation.
Economy:
The EU is Azerbaijan’s first trading partner and biggest export and import market. The EU supports Azerbaijan’s economic diversification through the negotiation of the new agreement with Azerbaijan and the accession
process to the WTO. EU assistance complements policy dialogue and Azerbaijan’s economic modernisation, supporting notably youth education, entrepreneurship and regional development. The EU also supports the government in improving the country’s business and investment climate.
The EU already has assisted 13,000 companies with funding, training, and export support to new markets through the EU4Business initiative, contributing to the creation of over 3,300 new jobs.
The project LEF network Azerbaijan contributes to the partnership agreement by:
- supporting export from the EU to Azerbaijan;
- increasing cooperation between the EU and Azerbaijan;
- supporting the sustainability of the environment;
- supporting educational development in society due to target sector - education.

Programme Common Output Indicator:

RCO 004 - Enterprises with non-financial support, Measurement unit:

Programme Result Indicator:

PSR1 Companies with achieved sales and contracts to new markets, Measurement unit: company

Project part of European Union Macro-Regional or Sea Basin Strategy: EUSBSR

EUSBSR Priority (Policy) area / Horizontal action:

EUSBSR Degree of compliance:

Information regarding the data in keep.eu on the programme financing this project

Financing programme

2021 - 2027 Interreg VI-A Finland-Estonia-Latvia-Sweden (Central Baltic)

Last month that data in keep.eu was retrieved from the Programme's website or received from the Programme

2025-01-21

No. of projects in keep.eu / Total no. of projects (% of projects in keep.eu)

63 / 112 (56.25%)

No. of project partnerships in keep.eu / Total no. of project partnerships (% of project partnerships in keep.eu)

251 / 446 (56.28%)

Notes on the data

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Joint support network for export development from Finland, Estonia, Latvia to Azerbaijan.

Description

Thematic information

Partners (3)

Partners map

Summary

Investments, deliverables, policy contributions

Information regarding the data in keep.eu on the programme financing this project

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