BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 3. The volume of loans granted to micro-businesses in Azerbaijan amounted to over 3 billion manat ($1.7 billion) by the end of February 2025.
Data obtained by Trend from the Central Bank of Azerbaijan (CBA) indicates that this figure represents a decrease of 40 million manat ($23.5 million) or 1.3 percent compared to the end of January.
Moreover, the volume of loans granted to micro-businesses stood at over 3 billion manat ($1.7 billion) by the end of January 2025.
To note, the total business loan portfolio of banks operating in Azerbaijan amounted to 14.8 billion manat ($8.7 billion) by the end of February, marking a growth of 0.5 percent, or 68 million manat ($40 million), compared to the previous month (14.7 billion manat or $8.6 billion).
As of January 1, 2024, Azerbaijan is home to 4,150 SMEs, the vast majority of which are located in the retail trade and automobile repair sector (1,423), with the least number in other sectors (47).
As of January 1, 2025, 178,061 micro-entrepreneurship entities have been operating 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.
