BAKU, Azerbaijan, February 26. A total of 3.05 billion manat ($1.8 billion) were allocated to microbusiness entities in Azerbaijan as of late January 2025.
Data obtained by Trend from the Central Bank of Azerbaijan shows that this figure decreased by 59 million manat ($34.7 million), or 1.9 percent from the end of last year (3.1 billion manat or $1.8 billion).
To note, the total business loan portfolio of banks operating in Azerbaijan amounted to 14.7 billion manat ($8.6 billion) by the end of January. This represents an increase of 13.9 percent, or 1.7 billion manat ($1 billion), compared to the previous year when the business loan portfolio stood at 12.9 billion manat ($7.5 billion).
As of January 1 of this year, a whopping 178,061 micro-entrepreneurship entities have been up and running in Azerbaijan.
Of these, 11,829 operated in agriculture, forestry, and fisheries; 10,850 in manufacturing; 16,438 in construction; 62,278 in trade and vehicle repair; 13,830 in professional, scientific, and technical activities; and 10,986 in providing administrative and support services. The fewest micro-entrepreneurship entities operate in electricity, gas, and steam production, distribution, and supply, with only 191 entities in this sector.