Your local European bank, AccessBank, announces the third launch of its Access2Success program, aimed at supporting women’s entrepreneurship and removing barriers faced by women in business. The program focuses on creating conditions for the successful formation and development of businesses by women, as well as strengthening their leadership and professional skills. The Access2Success project is being implemented with the support of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD).

This year, approximately 300 women applied for the program, and 60 entrepreneurs were selected based on specific criteria. As part of the project, the participants will have a unique opportunity to enhance their knowledge of business management, improve their leadership skills, expand their professional expertise in sales, and learn about the legal and marketing aspects of running a successful business. All of this knowledge will be delivered by leading trainers with extensive experience in the business field.

The primary goal of the project is to help women overcome obstacles such as limited access to financing, lack of business education, and limited opportunities for professional growth. The program also aims to provide participants with the necessary resources and knowledge for success, as well as to create a strong community of mutually supportive female entrepreneurs.

Quote from Renat Gumbatov, Member of the Board of AccessBank: "We are proud to launch the Access2Success program for the third time. Our goal is to continue supporting women entrepreneurs in Azerbaijan and create equal opportunities for business development. We believe that this project will be a significant step towards creating a strong entrepreneurial environment and stimulating the country's economic growth."

Quote from Samir Hamidov, Principal Manager, Advice for Small Businesses, EBRD: "The development of women’s entrepreneurship is one of the priority areas supported by the EBRD as part of the drive to stimulate the growth of Azerbaijan’s non-oil sector. Given that only around 23% of existing businesses in the country are owned by women, there is considerable potential to increase their share in the economy. To this end, the EBRD continues its targeted work, both directly and through local banking partners, aimed at expanding women entrepreneurs’ access to key advisory and financial services."

The first Access2Success project was launched in 2022, attracting approximately 200 candidates. Of these, 53 individuals met the requirements and participated. The second Access2Success project was implemented in 2023, selecting 50 women from over 250 applications. During the 5-week program, women entrepreneurs received training in strategic business development, crisis management, reporting to government agencies, sales, marketing, e-commerce, personnel management, and business control.