On March 7, 2024, a conference on "Economic reforms and modern challenges to improve the business environment" was held under the organization of the Commission for Business Environment and International Ratings. State and government representatives, heads and members of the Commission's working groups, as well as representatives of the private sector and company leaders took part in the conference.

The conference was opened and moderated by Vusal Gasimli, executive director of the Center for Analysis of Economic Reforms and Communication. He said that CAERC aims to support green and digital transformation in accordance with global trends through the "azranking.az" portal, which is a digital management platform for economic reforms, and at the same time to stimulate sustainable economic development. According to V. Gasimly, the reform agenda and promotion policy under the leadership of President Ilham Aliyev, as well as the great return, Baku's master plan, green energy, transport-logistics, industry, regional development and privatization programs can accelerate the attraction of non-state investments.

Vusal Shikhaliyev, head of the Department of Economic Policy and Industrial Affairs of the Administration of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, head of the Secretariat of the Commission, made a presentation on "Activities of the Commission on Business Environment and International Ratings for 2023 and upcoming priorities". He said that in 2023, according to the mandate of the Commission, 5 new working groups and 2 new coordination groups were created in priority areas at the initiative of the relevant state institutions. In general, 25 working groups, 2 coordinating groups and 4 subgroups on specific areas (environmental transport, scientific potential, cross-border trade and ESG) operate within the Commission, and the total number of members of the working groups of the Commission is more than 660. V. Shikhaliyev noted that in the reporting year, taking into account modern challenges, new priority directions of action were defined and implemented. During the past year, 13 Roadmaps related to the World Bank's "Business Ready" report (in total, 472 measures) were implemented, as well as 14 Action Plans and Roadmaps in other important areas. Within the framework of the commission, under the guidance of the relevant state institutions, more than 30 normative legal acts were drafted and submitted accordingly, and important legislative documents serving to increase the business environment were adopted. It is aimed to organize more efficient and flexible coordination/communication within the Commission, as well as to create inclusiveness and synergy.

At the conference, improvement of Azerbaijani legislation, state-business dialogue, improvement of business environment, support for improvement of investment environment of the private sector, development of financial services, provision of e-government services and reforms on internet infrastructure, environmental safety, reforms in the construction sector, creation of an information system related to real estate and presentations were made on other topics.

It should be noted that the Commission on Business Environment and International Ratings was established by the Decree of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan dated July 13, 2016. The purpose of creating the commission is to create a business environment that will ensure the optimal profitability of entrepreneurial activity and be based on the principles of competition, to increase the country's investment attractiveness, to improve the legislation and administration in order to further improve the position of Azerbaijan in international rankings, and to achieve the implementation of other necessary measures in this direction.