From September 4 to 8, a group of four entrepreneurs from Sevastopol, who focus on spices, natural drinks, building materials, and innovative technical solutions for construction, visited Baku. The regional Export Support Center, located in the My Business center, arranged the trip.
“Even with the sanctions from the West, we have successfully increased our exports. A recent example of this is the Sevastopol business mission to Baku, where our entrepreneurs connected with new partners from Azerbaijan and presented sought-after products to customers. Engaging in such activities is now easier, thanks to the Export Support Center operating under the national project for Small and Medium-sized Enterprises. This year alone, 143 entrepreneurs have benefited from its services”, stated Maria Litovko, Deputy Governor of Sevastopol.
Meetings were held in Baku with representatives from twenty Azerbaijani companies. Currently, two companies are negotiating to finalize export agreements, while two others are preparing commercial proposals for their Azerbaijani partners.
“Economic relations between Russia and Azerbaijan are growing rapidly. Sevastopol also establishes the first contacts with the partner state. Our companies effectively presented their products and services in Baku, where entrepreneurs held discussions with potential partners. Two export agreements are scheduled to be signed soon. It is important to note that supporting the export efforts of small and medium-sized enterprises is a primary focus of the My Business center. It covers various expenses such as interpreter services, organizing business meetings, arranging transportation for participants, renting negotiation venues, preparing souvenirs, and more”, said Natalia Borisova, the director of the My Business center.
In 2023, Sevastopol successfully established partnerships with such countries as Tajikistan, India, and Egypt. Overall, Sevastopol’s trade network spans nine countries. The highest number of agreements is made with business owners from Kazakhstan. Popular exports include natural cosmetics, fish (especially hamsa), spices, sweets, and food industry equipment.
“Participation in the business mission is a great opportunity to find new partners to enter the foreign market, and to conduct face-to-face B2B meetings at the potential buyer’s premises, ensuring the legitimacy of the company. We anticipated discovering new contacts and understanding the market’s unique aspects, but we ended up finding not only buyers but also potential partners. Azerbaijan proved to be welcoming and open to new offers. Thanks to the Export Support Center, working with foreign countries has become faster and more efficient”, said Dmitry Binkovsky, Head of SG Sodruzhestvo.
During the business trip to Azerbaijan, the host country mentioned their plan to visit Sevastopol next year.
Source: sev.gov.ru
