Azerbaijan has approved the 2027–2029 National Action Plan on the Development of Competition and Prevention of Monopolistic Activity by Presidential Order dated September 11, 2026. The plan is aimed at improving competition in goods and services markets, encouraging private investment, and supporting sustainable and competitive economic growth.
A key focus of the plan is the review and improvement of economic, technical, and administrative regulations that may affect competition. This includes licensing and permitting procedures, as well as residiagnostics of priority and strategically important product markets. The plan also provides for the development of a system of competition indicators and a competition map covering Azerbaijan and its regions.
The plan also places emphasis on competitive neutrality and the gradual transition toward more competitive market models. Proposals are expected to be developed to strengthen competitive neutrality principles in state-owned enterprises, excluding banks in which the State holds a controlling interest. Measures are also envisaged for specially regulated infrastructure and service sectors, as well as markets with exclusive State participation.
Institutional and academic development form another major part of the plan. Measures include establishing a competition research centre, developing a modern methodology for competition diagnostics, and integrating competition economics and competition law into relevant higher-education programmes. The plan also seeks to improve competition awareness among businesses and consumers and expand cooperation with regulators, entrepreneurs, international organisations, and foreign competition authorities.
The measures are scheduled for implementation during 2027–2029 and will be financed through the state budget, extra-budgetary funds, and other legally permitted sources. The State Agency for Antimonopoly and Consumer Market Control under the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan will coordinate implementation, while monitoring and evaluation will be carried out in accordance with the Presidential Order.
