New global investment strategies needed for Azerbaijan, expert says

Developing new global investment strategies is essential for Azerbaijan, said James Zhan, Chair of WAIPA's WIC Executive Board and Founding Chair of the UN Sustainable Stock Exchanges Initiative, Report informs.

He made the remarks at the First Azerbaijan International Investment Forum (AIIF 2025) held in Baku.

According to Zhan, the global value chain is shifting from a "chain" model to a "cluster" model - a transformation that opens new opportunities for investment in transit hubs like Azerbaijan:

"Multimillion-dollar companies are now prioritizing regional hubs over global centralization. The share of maritime transport is decreasing, while land-based transport is gaining importance."

He stressed that attracting investment into just one segment of the value chain is no longer sufficient:

"New collaboration models - such as the development of supply services, strengthening local manufacturing, licensing, franchising, and joint ventures - are becoming increasingly important, especially those not based on equity capital."

Zhan also underlined that international sustainability standards, particularly those of the European Union and the International Sustainability Board (ISB), will become key benchmarks for future investors:

"Integrating these approaches into Azerbaijan's industrial and investment policies could significantly strengthen the country's position in the region."