From the 16th to 20th of October, 2023, the 8th World Investment Forum on the topic “Investment for sustainable development” with the organization of the World Association of Public-Private Partnership (WAPPP) took place in the city of Abu Dhabi of the United Arab Emirates.
The ESRI was represented at the forum by a senior research fellow of the Department for the Analysis of Economic Development Policy, Elsever Latifli, and a junior research fellow of the Department of Economic Modelling, Statistics, and Data Analytics, Lala Taghiyeva.
In the course of the event topics such as the innovations in the creation and financing of public-private partnership projects, the development of public-private partnership arrangements, and the exceptional role of public-private partnership projects in economic development were discussed.
As part of the forum, Elsever Latifli participated as a speaker in the panel titled “Current Situation of Public-Private Partnership in Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Kyrgyz Republic”.
During his speech he touched on the current status of public-private partnership in Azerbaijan, the law of the Republic of Azerbaijan on “Public-Private Partnership” adopted last December, the institutional framework of public-private partnership in Azerbaijan, and the exceptional role of the Ministry of Economy in the implementation of public-private partnership projects.
E. Latifli noted that the restoration of territorial integrity and sovereignty as a result of the Second Karabakh War of 2020 and anti-terrorism operations served as a turning point in terms of the approach of Azerbaijan to public-private partnership. He also provided information on the “I State Program on the Great Return to the Territories Liberated from the Occupation of the Republic of Azerbaijan” adopted in November of 2022 and the reconstruction works planned based on this program.
Providing information on the draft book on public-private partnership in the Azerbaijani language and the intention to hold the UNECE International Public-Private Partnership Forum in Baku in 2025, E. Latifli elaborated on the significant role the ESRI plays in raising the awareness of public-private partnership.
As part of the forum on October 18th, a round table as part of the meeting of the Global Council of Public-Private Partnership Institutions with the participation of the senior management of the World Association of Public-Private Partnership (WAPPP), heads of Public-Private Partnership units of 18 countries, including countries such as UAE, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Egypt, Jordan, and others took place. The goal of the meeting was to expand relations between heads of public-private partnership units and exchange views on the implemented projects.
Delivering a speech at the round table E. Latifli dwelt on the research undertaken by the ESRI in the field of public-private partnership and the public-private partnership institution envisaged to be set up. He also touched on the importance of cooperation with WAPPP and noted the significance of the exchange of experience in this field.
Within the framework of the forum, a meeting between ESRI representatives and representatives of several international institutions took place. During the meeting with the creator of the Growth Lab of Harvard University, Professor Ricardo Hausman, the parties discussed a hybrid meeting that took place at ESRI premises between representatives of ESRI and Growth Lab, the opportunities for cooperation that had been discussed, and the joint activities envisaged for implementation.
