BAKU, Azerbaijan, December 10. The 3rd Industrial Safety Summit, held under the theme 'Turning Point' at the Baku Marriott Hotel Boulevard, was co-organized by the Ministry of Emergency Situations, SOCAR, and the Azerbaijan Industrial Safety Association (AISA), Trend reports.
The main goal of the summit was to serve as a strategic platform for discussing new approaches, innovations, and best practices that have emerged against the backdrop of industrial safety, technological innovation, climate change, and social transformation.
Addressing the event, Vusal Aghayev, head of the State Agency for Supervision of Safe Operations in Industry and Mining of the Ministry of Emergency Situations, noted that industrial safety is not only a technical issue, but also one of the main pillars of national security, sustainable development, and, most importantly, the protection of human life. He said that in accordance with the strategic development course set by President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, the priority tasks are to improve the safety culture in the country, minimize risks, and strengthen innovation-oriented management. The Ministry of Emergency Situations is implementing these priorities consistently, comprehensively, and proactively.
Further, Orkhan Khalilzade, Chairman of the Board of the Azerbaijan Industrial Safety Association, emphasized that the real turning point for the Azerbaijani industry is not following AI and technological innovations, but joining the ranks of leading countries that have made industrial safety an integral part of their activities.
In his speech, SOCAR Downstream Management CEO Emil Alkhasli noted that safety in the oil and gas sector is not only an integral part of the production process, but also an integral part of corporate culture. He said that SOCAR continues to apply innovative approaches in this area in accordance with international standards.
Orkhan Mammadov, Chairman of the Board of the Small and Medium Business Development Agency of the Republic of Azerbaijan, who participated in the summit, talked about the importance of industrial safety as a key factor in the sustainable development of enterprises and the importance of strengthening mechanisms to support entrepreneurs in this area.
Other speakers also highlighted the importance of developing a culture of industrial safety in Azerbaijan and supporting efforts to transition the country's business environment to a safer and more sustainable future by sharing best practices in this area.
As part of the Industrial Safety Summit, a memorandum of understanding was signed on trilateral cooperation in the field of industrial safety, occupational health and safety, and the environment between the Ministry of Emergency Situations, SOCAR, and the Azerbaijan Industrial Safety Association. Under the memorandum, the parties will work together on safety standards, ISO management systems, and ESG principles.
The summit, which also featured a panel discussion entitled “Red Line” and an interactive discussion session entitled “Safe Conversations,” was organized with the participation of up to 10 speakers and moderators, as well as more than 300 executives, managers, and decision-makers.
The event concluded with an awards ceremony, the “Occupational Safety and Environmental Protection Award,” where awards in various categories were presented to individuals, companies, and organizations that have distinguished themselves in the field of occupational safety, environmental protection, and the environment.
