Business Finance & Trade Policy: Azerbaijan expands non-oil export support by subsidizing transportation costs and easing logistics barriers for manufacturers, including Nakhchivan goods. SME Credit Support: A decree shifts powers of the Mortgage and Credit Guarantee Fund to the Azerbaijan Business Development Fund, with interest-rate guarantees and state subsidies piloted until end-2030 (excluding Baku/Absheron). Energy & Infrastructure: bp will transfer operations of the Baku–Supsa pipeline to Azerbaijan and Georgia while staying involved under contract terms; SOCAR also launched energy-market briefings for young media ahead of the transition. Digital Payments: Azerbaijan’s Central Bank is discussing cross-border payments with Türkiye and the UAE using its instant-payment infrastructure. Broadband & Telecom: “Online Azerbaijan” coverage reached 99.7%, while Aztelekom and Huawei helped nearly nationwide broadband access. Food & Agriculture Exports: Azerbaijan’s Food Safety Agency meets Israel to expand food trade and mutual recognition; a delegation also visits China to widen access for Azerbaijani agricultural products. Regional Finance Cooperation: Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan central banks exchange supervision know-how, including risk-based oversight and consumer lending rules. Education & Skills: UNEC introduces APTIS-based English assessment with British Council support, aiming for internationally recognized certification. Security/Shipping Impact: Azerbaijan confirms six citizens killed in a Ukrainian drone strike on cargo vessels supporting Russian logistics in the Azov Sea. Armenia Context for Business Risk: Armenia’s election results and alleged irregularities keep regional uncertainty high, with knock-on effects for trade and corridor planning.