The “Azerbaijan Skills Accelerator” initiative has officially been launched as part of the partnership between the Ministry of Economy of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the World Economic Forum. The announcement was made during a dedicated event that brought together public, private, academic, and international stakeholders for a strategic discussion on the future of skills in Azerbaijan.

Organised by the Center for Analysis and Coordination of the Fourth Industrial Revolution (C4IR Azerbaijan), operating under the Ministry of Economy, the event titled "The Changing Labor Market: Human Capital and Tomorrow’s Skills" served as the platform to introduce the initiative and outline its national objectives.

A panel discussion on “A Strategic Vision for Skills Development in Azerbaijan’s Priority Sectors” marked the formal launch of the initiative. Moderated by Neil Allison, Head of Education, Skills and Learning at the World Economic Forum, the session explored how Azerbaijan can build a skills ecosystem aligned with emerging labour market needs.

Elnur Aliyev, First Deputy Minister of Economy, emphasized the strong and expanding cooperation between Azerbaijan and the WEF. He noted that, in a rapidly evolving global economy, investing in human capital aligned with labour market requirements is essential for sustainable development. Highlighting the country’s ongoing economic diversification agenda, he underscored the rising demand for a workforce equipped with innovative capabilities and future-ready skill sets. The “Azerbaijan Skills Accelerator” is expected to help bridge existing skills gaps, enhance youth employability, and align the workforce with emerging professional domains.

The initiative, built on collaboration between the private sector, educational institutions, and international partners, aims to strengthen the supply-and-demand balance in the labour market through targeted interventions.

Deputy Minister of Science and Education, Kanan Karimzada, described the establishment of the Azerbaijan Skills Accelerator as an important step toward upskilling and reskilling the national workforce. He noted ongoing efforts to modernize educational infrastructure and expand learning opportunities for young people.

Rovshan Najaf, President of SOCAR, stressed that sustained investments in human capital - enabled by strong partnerships between the state, industry, and education - are fundamental to long-term economic resilience. He highlighted the importance of lifelong learning approaches and initiatives such as the Skills Accelerator in advancing technology-driven development.

Speaking on behalf of the private sector, Jalal Gasimov, CEO of PASHA Holding, emphasized that the competitiveness of modern economies increasingly depends on a digitally literate and adaptable workforce. He noted the rapidly growing demand for advanced skills in fintech, data analytics, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and innovation-driven fields.

A high-level session followed, focusing on Azerbaijan’s priority skill areas for the coming years.

Azerbaijan Joins the WEF Global Accelerator Network

Neil Allison welcomed the launch of the Azerbaijan Skills Accelerator and Azerbaijan’s joining of the WEF’s Global Accelerator Network as a significant milestone in the country’s economic diversification journey. He underscored that aligning education with industry needs, advancing digital and green skills, and promoting lifelong learning are core objectives of the initiative -strengthening human capital and enabling the workforce to capture the opportunities of the future economy.

Presenting insights from the Future of Jobs 2025 report, Allison outlined global skills trends and their potential implications for Azerbaijan. Participants also took part in a nationwide survey to identify key national skill priorities.

Fariz Jafarov, Executive Director of C4IR Azerbaijan, delivered a presentation on “Skills and Local Challenges in the Fourth Industrial Revolution”, providing an overview of the Azerbaijan Skills Accelerator’s scope and implementation model.

He noted that the Skills Accelerator is a global public-private collaboration platform led by the WEF’s Centre for the New Economy and Society. The Global Skills Accelerator Network - of which Azerbaijan is now a member - operates in 35 countries, fostering cross-sector cooperation, promoting workforce transformation, and scaling innovative solutions.

Governance and Implementation

The initiative will be coordinated by C4IR Azerbaijan. The national co-chairs of the Azerbaijan Skills Accelerator are:

• Mikayil Jabbarov, Minister of Economy

• Emin Amrullayev, Minister of Science and Education

• Rovshan Najaf, President of SOCAR

• Jalal Gasimov, CEO of PASHA Holding

Recognising Excellence in Learning

At the conclusion of the event, certificates were awarded to participants who demonstrated exceptional engagement in courses offered through the Coursera online learning platform under the “4IR Academy – National Programme”, jointly implemented by C4IR Azerbaijan and the Education Development Fund of the Ministry of Science and Education.