As part of the First Azerbaijan International Investment Forum held in Baku, a panel session titled “Accelerating Industrial Development in Azerbaijan: Skills, Innovation and Strategic Growth” brought together global thought leaders, policy-makers, and innovation experts to discuss the future of Azerbaijan’s industrial transformation.

Shaping the Future of Industry through Skills and Innovation

Moderated by Nadya Giyane from ANEWZ Television, the discussion explored the growing role of artificial intelligence (AI), skills development, and innovation-driven growth in shaping modern industries.

Steve Nouri, CEO and Co-founder of GenAI Works, shared insights on the impact of AI on everyday life, work, and education. He underlined the importance of responsible AI use, continuous learning, and leveraging platforms such as Coursera to enhance digital skills. Nouri also emphasised the need to align education programmes with the new challenges of the digital era.

C4IR Azerbaijan Highlights Industrial Readiness and Human Capital Development

Fariz Jafarov, Executive Director of the Centre for Analysis and Coordination of the Fourth Industrial Revolution (C4IR Azerbaijan) under the Ministry of Economy, presented the organisation’s initiatives in driving technological transformation and industrial competitiveness.

He outlined the goals of the Industry 4.0 Readiness Program, which assesses the technological maturity of enterprises based on international methodology and develops customised roadmaps for their digital transformation. Mr Jafarov also spoke about C4IR Azerbaijan’s work in human capital development, supporting businesses and institutions in adapting to Industry 4.0 opportunities.

International Perspectives on Building Industrial Ecosystems

Other distinguished panellists included Lisa Bodell, CEO of FutureThink and author of the bestseller “Why Simple Wins”; Rina Bardik, an expert in investment promotion, economic development, and strategic partnerships; and Can Selçuki, Managing Partner at the Istanbul Economics Research Center.

They shared perspectives on establishing industrial ecosystems in sectors with high growth potential — including manufacturing, energy, logistics, and ICT — and discussed strategies to attract investment and strengthen innovation linkages across the region.

The panel also addressed the importance of developing vocational and technical skills in line with labour market needs, implementing dual education models, and expanding education–industry collaboration to prepare the workforce for the challenges and opportunities of the Fourth Industrial Revolution.