The Republic of Azerbaijan, which gained independence from the Soviet Union in 1991, is a politically stable democracy. The country has an established democratic government, which is fully supportive of international investment initiatives.

Azerbaijan is a multiparty democracy and presidential republic with a separation of the executive and legislative bodies. It is among the region’s most stable countries and has a good human rights record.

Azerbaijan is a multiparty democracy and presidential republic with a separation of the executive and legislative bodies. It is among the region’s most stable countries.

The mining code is fledgling and runs under the guidance of the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources. The country has an established oil industry, with more than 15 major oil and gas companies with PSAs with the Azeri Government including BP, which has been operating in the country since 1994, Total and ExxonMobil.

The country has attracted business from a number of the leading international consulting firms, such as McKinsey, PWC, EY and Deloitte.

Infrastructure is reasonably extensive. Low cost labour is also available.

Geography

Azerbaijan is situated in south-west Asia between Iran and Russia and bordering the Caspian Sea to the east. The capital city is Baku. A small part of Azerbaijan north of the Caucasus range is in Europe. The country also
has borders with Armenia, Georgia and Turkey. It is split into two by Armenia and the smaller part is called the
Autonomous Republic of Nakhchivan. Azerbaijan covers an area of over 86,000 square kilometres ranging from the flat Kura-Araz lowlands in the south to the Great Caucasus mountains to the north with the Karabakh upland in the west. The climate is semi-arid with cold winters and hot summers. The population is slightly above 10 million.