- Business workshop
PASHA Bank sponsored the ‘Crisis creates new opportunities’ workshop, which was held in Baku on April 3. The workshop was targeted at business representatives and was hosted with the organisational support of the National Confederation of Entrepreneurs of Azerbaijan (NCEA).
The event focused on the aftermath of the recent global financial crisis, particularly the effect this is having on Azerbaijan’s economy. More than 100 entrepreneurs and representatives of analytical centres attended the event. The workshop was led by experts from a range of organisations, including Azerbaijan’s National Assembly, the Ministry of Economy and Industry of Azerbaijan and PASHA Bank.
Taleh Kazimov, Chief Investment Officer and Member of the Board of PASHA Bank, believes that the current trends bring even more opportunities for attracting investment into local production and developing exports.
“Any turbulence in the world market creates new business opportunities. In view of this, we invited experts with extensive experience of doing business in difficult conditions and using the opportunities crises bring to participate in the event. We strongly believe this workshop is a good platform not only for training local businessmen, but also for exchanging views on how to further develop the country,” said Taleh Kazimov.
- Rating
Standard & Poor’s has affirmed its long-term and short-term ratings for PASHA Bank, one of Azerbaijan’s leading banks, at ‘BB-’ and ‘B’, respectively. The outlook is stable.
According to Taleh Kazimov, achieving these ratings during a period when the region is experiencing higher macroeconomic risks, is testament to PASHA Bank’s credibility.
“Positioning ourselves as a reliable financial partner of the real sector, we are going to stay strongly committed to supporting business and contributing to the growth and diversification of Azerbaijan’s economy”, said Taleh Kazimov.
This is the highest rating among all domestic private banks with 100% local capital.
- Supporting media
PASHA Bank supports a business journalism training programme, which is aimed at strengthening the skills of young business journalists. This year’s event took place in March 2015 and concluded with a one-week educational trip to the UK. PASHA Bank worked with the British Council and Thomson Foundation on this project.
During the trip to the UK, journalists from Azerbaijani media outlets visited the editorial offices of a range of global mass media organisations, including The Telegraph and the BBC, which gave them the opportunity to learn how British news agencies operate and to gain one-to-one advice from their foreign counterparts. In addition, the programme participants visited a range of London institutions, including the House of Lords and the London Stock Exchange.
The project’s ambition is to have a leading group of young business journalists, who are able to apply what they have learned from their European colleagues to enhance the reports they write on Azerbaijan’s business and economic environment. Such projects are an important part of PASHA Bank’s Corporate Social Responsibility Programme.
