The report of the Agency for 2022 and the first half of 2023 was presented, plans for 2024 and other current issues were discussed at the next meeting of the Supervisory Board of KOBIA.

The next meeting of the Supervisory Board of the Small and Medium Business Development Agency (KOBIA) under the Ministry of Economy was held.

Information was provided on the activities of KOBIA in the first half of 2022 and 2023, the priority directions of development set for 2024, measures aimed at the development and support of SMEs and other issues on the agenda were discussed at the meeting chaired by the Chairman of the Supervisory Board, the Minister of Economy Mikayil Jabbarov.

The Chairman of the Management Board of KOBIA Orkhan Mammadov made a presentation on the activities of the Agency during the relevant period and reported on the work done in the direction of the development of SMEs, increasing their knowledge and skills, expanding their access to financial resources and sales markets, and protecting the interests of SMEs. It was pointed out that 22 SME development centers held more than 1,000 trainings for the benefit of nearly 12,000 SME subjects and people intending to start a business, provided consulting services to more than 2,200 SMEs, and prepared more than 500 business plans during the reporting period. By the issuance of 51 "Startup" certificates, which provide tax benefits for innovative activities for micro and small entrepreneurs, the number of SMEs that received this document reached 105. 747,000 manat grants have been allocated to the projects of 40 SMEs in the areas of education, science, research and support. 18 internal market studies were conducted at the request of entrepreneurs and at the initiative of KOBIA. 1133 SMEs were supported to participate in 23 exhibitions. 25 SMEs benefited from the support mechanism for access to trade networks during the reporting period. The number of existing offices has reached 46 with the launch of 20 SME-friendly offices, which provide on-site support and services to SMEs. The number of SME houses increased to 3 in 2023, with the commissioning of the "Baku SME House", which provides services to entrepreneurs in a single space by state and private institutions. Positive growth dynamics is observed from year to year in the number of entrepreneurs using the services of SME houses. More than 73,000 services were provided to entrepreneurs by SME houses in 2022, and more than 197,000 in the first half of 2023. 14 surveys were conducted during the reporting period with the participation of more than 3300 SMEs. Applications have been received from 6 SMEs under the SME cluster mechanism, which has been implemented this year, and relevant work is being done in this direction.

The opinions of the members of the Supervisory Board were heard, discussions were held, and relevant decisions were made at the meeting, regarding the mentioned directions and other issues.

Minister of Economy Mikayil Jabbarov and members of the Supervisory Board got acquainted with the activities of "Baku SME House" and met with the staff of KOBIA within the framework of the meeting.