Azerbaijan's experience in the energy sector and the international partnerships it has established create a good basis for attracting new investment in transport and renewable energy, Desislava Radeva, Executive Director of Development & Agency Finance at Standard Chartered Bank, said during a panel discussion at the Azerbaijan International Investment Forum (AIIF 2026) held in Baku, APA-Economics reports.
According to Desislava Radeva, the availability of investment opportunities alone is not sufficient to strengthen investor confidence; it is also important to develop specific projects that can be financed by international banks.
Desislava Radeva said that Standard Chartered Bank can play a role in structuring projects in a bankable form, bringing together various sources of capital, and providing access to international expertise.
Desislava Radeva noted that the bank specializes in arranging long-term debt financing for infrastructure and capital investments and currently works with 25 export credit agencies worldwide. The use of guarantees from export credit agencies helps reduce project risks and increase investor confidence and the bankability of projects.
As an example, Desislava Radeva cited a 300 MW solar energy project in Türkiye worth approximately EUR 250 million. The project was supported by the UK's export credit agency, UK Export Finance (UKEF). UKEF provided a 100% guarantee for the eligible financing amount.
As another example, Desislava Radeva cited a railway project between Ankara and Izmir. She said the project is worth approximately EUR 2.4 billion, noting that it was structured with UK support and utilized the capabilities of the UK's supply chain.
Desislava Radeva emphasized that Azerbaijan already has significant experience in the energy sector and established relationships with international partners. Based on this experience, new investment opportunities in transport and renewable energy can be developed in the country.
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