A meeting of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Mr. Ilham Aliyev and Carlsberg Group President and CEO, Cees`t Hart, was held as part of the annual World Economic Forum in Davos on January 21st.

Within the meeting, Ilham Aliyev mentioned that the reforms implemented in our country in recent years gave positive results serving to increase state budget revenues by means of transparency and accountability of tax and customs revenues. The Head of the country emphasized that reforms focused on creation of a more favourable investment and business environment in Azerbaijan will continue, and a predictable tax, customs and other policies to be pursued for foreign and local investors.

Cees t'Hart, Carlsberg Group President and CEO, noted the efficiency of reforms implemented by the Head of State in recent years and creation of a favourable business and investment environment in Azerbaijan. He emphasized that such transformations create great opportunities to improve business and competitive environment, as well as to increase the transparency of the business operations conditions. The head of the company said that Carlsberg Group, being a major foreign investor, has always supported these reforms, and will continue on this course in future. He also mentioned that, taking advantage of these opportunities, Carlsberg Group intends to enhance investments in the economy of Azerbaijan. Since 2020, Carlsberg Group has been planning investments in the agricultural sector of the country, and a pilot project on the malt barley cultivation in Azerbaijan has already been launched. In November 2019, Carlsberg Azerbaijan, in cooperation with Azərşəkər LLC, conducted a test sowing of malt barley in several regions of Azerbaijan. After getting the first crop, the barley analysis will be conducted and a decision to be made regarding its suitability for the use in the brewing industry.

If the pilot project gives positive results, it will be possible to enhance it in 2021. This will give Carlsberg Azerbaijan opportunity to cover the need for malt barley with local grain and enter the regional tenders with this type of raw material.