EY (Ernst & Young) celebrated a major milestone, marking 30 years of commitment and service in Azerbaijan. A special event was held in Baku on Thursday to commemorate this occasion, bringing together clients, government officials, and leaders from the business community.
Since establishing its office in Azerbaijan in 1994, EY has played an instrumental role in supporting the country's economic transformation. Over the past three decades, EY has provided world-class professional services in audit, consulting, tax, and advisory, helping local businesses grow, innovate, and become more competitive on the global stage.
At the event, Ilgar Veliyev, Country Managing Partner at EY Azerbaijan, highlighted the firm’s long-standing contribution to both economic and human development in the region. “For 30 years, EY has been a proud partner in Azerbaijan's journey of growth. We have worked closely with local businesses and the public sector, helping to improve governance, enhance transparency, and drive sustainable development. 2024 marks an important landmark for all the EY people and our former colleagues, as it is a testament to our accomplishment of building a successful professional services firm, now with a growing team of 324 dedicated professionals”.
Established in 1994, EY became the first international accounting and advisory firm working in Azerbaijan. It quickly grew to become a trusted brand in leading the audit of banking and financial institutions, telecom companies and leading state-run enterprises.
“EY Azerbaijan traces its roots to humble beginnings in 1994 with only a few employees. We have, along the way, grown in scale and diversity to become a full-fledged professional services provider that delivers value-added Assurance, Tax and Legal, Consulting, and Strategy and Transactions services to our clients. A lot has changed in the past 30 years. Yet, what remains unchanged is our commitment to bringing unwavering exceptional services to our clients then and now”, - said Ilgar Veliyev.
EY’s commitment to the country goes beyond business consulting. Through capacity-building programs and training initiatives, EY has played an active role in fostering local talent and developing the next generation of leaders in Azerbaijan. Thousands of Azerbaijani professionals have benefitted from the firm’s continuous focus on knowledge transfer, upskilling, and leadership development.
Speaking at the ceremony, Erlan Dosymbekov, EY Caucasus and Central Asia Managing Partner thanked his Baku-based colleagues and highlighted EY’s commitment to developing its people, thus expanding the pool of local talent who then progress to play important roles in their country’s socio-economic development. He also said: “As we proudly celebrate 30 years of EY in Azerbaijan, this gathering is a special occasion for us to look back, with pride and sense of accomplishment, at our extraordinary journey. It is reassuring to meet several generations of former EY-ers who are now making a remarkable contribution to this nation’s development. Today, we’re also celebrating our close partnership with respectful stakeholders and key clients. EY Azerbaijan’s inspirational growth is based on trust and quality which lie at the heart of our long-term commitment towards the development of the profession and the country’s economy”.
Professional services companies like EY are vital to the business community as they provide businesses with the tools and expertise to navigate an increasingly complex global market. EY has helped Azerbaijani companies modernize their operations, adopt global best practices, and integrate sustainable strategies that not only contribute to their own success but also support the broader goals of Azerbaijan’s economic diversification. Since 2019, EY has been organizing ‘EY Entrepreneur Of The Year’ competition aimed at recognizing and encouraging small and medium-sized businesses in the country.
As EY looks to the future, the firm remains committed to being a trusted partner for Azerbaijani businesses, government, and society. "This 30-year journey has been one of collaboration and mutual success. We look forward to continuing this partnership as Azerbaijan continues to grow and achieve new heights," added Mr Veliyev.
About EY Azerbaijan
EY is a global leader in assurance, tax, transaction, and advisory services. Since opening its office in Baku in 1994, EY Azerbaijan has worked with businesses of all sizes across various sectors, supporting the country’s economic transformation. The firm remains dedicated to building a better working world for its clients, employees, and the communities it serves.