Companies seeking to enter the Azerbaijani market should strongly consider identifying a local partner.  Business is largely relationship driven, and a premium is placed on face-to-face interaction.  Additionally, having a local presence on the ground can help secure business opportunities that would otherwise go to a competitor, help manage important relationships with government entities, and minimize confusion due to language or cultural differences.  Timely communication is a significant issue, with U.S. companies frequently reporting frustration when dealing with Azerbaijani partners due to delayed responses.  It is not unusual for weeks to go by without emails or phone calls being answered.

To help mitigate delayed communications, the U.S. Embassy’s Commercial Unit can assist with identifying potential in-country partners and facilitating communication.