The Industrial Safety Summit, dedicated to the 100th anniversary of National Leader Heydar Aliyev, which had been in preparation for a long period, was held on November 30, 2023, at the Gulustan Palace. Jointly organized by the Azerbaijan Industrial Safety Association (AISA) and the Azerbaijan State Scientific Research Institute for Labor Protection and Safety Engineering under the Ministry of Emergency Situations, the event was held with BP Azerbaijan as the main sponsor, and SOCAR Downstream Management LLC and Bureau Veritas as platinum sponsors. The one-day summit consisted of three panels and brought together more than 450 participants.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, Deputy Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources Rauf Hajiyev stated that “the transition to a green economy holds a crucial place for Azerbaijan. In the Presidential Decree on ‘Azerbaijan 2030: National Priorities for Socio-Economic Development,’ the fifth priority is specifically related to the creation of a clean environment.”
For this reason, the Deputy Minister highly praised the activities of the Azerbaijan Industrial Safety Association and similar initiatives, noting that the country will ensure waste recycling, a healthy environment, the expansion of green areas, and the efficient use of water and sustainable energy sources.
“Specific tasks have been defined for waste recycling. Reforms aimed at decarbonization of the economy are being implemented. Forest and green zones, as well as large agro-gardens, are being established. By the end of this year, including in the liberated territories, it is planned to plant 3 million trees across the country,” Rauf Hajiyev added.
Also addressing the opening ceremony, Vusal Agayev, Head of the State Agency for Safe Conduct of Works in Industry and Mining Supervision under the Ministry of Emergency Situations, wished success to the Azerbaijan Industrial Safety Association and thanked the organizers for keeping industrial safety issues on the agenda. He emphasized that efforts are being made to ensure that entrepreneurs also consistently prioritize industrial safety, stating: “Business owners must understand that time and investments made in industrial safety will never be wasted.”
Vusal Agayev also touched upon the issue of shortages of qualified personnel in the sector, noting that cooperation with educational institutions has already begun and several internship and training programs are being implemented to enhance human capital.
At the beginning of the event, Orkhan Khalilzadeh, Chairman of the Azerbaijan Industrial Safety Association, welcomed the participants and noted that the association had recently been officially registered by the Ministry of Justice and commenced its activities. He stated that the association would continue its operations transparently through its website www.aisa.az and social media platforms.
According to Khalilzadeh, AISA plans to organize seminars, practical training sessions, and discussions on legislative proposals with the support of professionals in industrial facilities, occupational health and safety, and environmental protection. He also highlighted plans for international cooperation, citing the participation of the UK-based NEBOSH organization as a silver sponsor as an example.
The event was sponsored by IST Services, Safe Life, Global Energy Azerbaijan Limited, Gate Baku CJSC, PMD Projects, and Agcurate, and partnered with AVFALL Solutions, Caspian Energy Club, Baku International Sea Trade Port, Marriott Baku Boulevard Hotel, and several other organizations. As part of the initiative, the gold sponsor IST Services planted one tree on behalf of each participant through the “Green Future” platform of the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources, with certificates presented to attendees.
Throughout the day, the Summit continued with three panel discussions featuring 20 speakers and moderators, addressing key topics such as reducing carbon emissions, environmental protection, human capital development, international experience in the energy transition, and opportunities for local implementation.
During the event, several companies were awarded honorary membership certificates from the Azerbaijan Industrial Safety Association and letters of appreciation from the Azerbaijan State Scientific Research Institute for Labor Protection and Safety Engineering in recognition of their support for industrial safety initiatives.
