“Бакинский рабочий” newspaper

Baku Hosts the Establishment of International NGO Platforms

Azerbaijan has demonstrated that it is no longer just a regional player but an active participant in civil society building processes at the global level.

On April 28–29, 2025, a founding conference was held in Baku for the establishment of the Global South NGO Platform. With this event, Azerbaijan marked a significant milestone in the international civil society arena. This initiative once again confirmed our country’s growing global reputation and strategic position.

The establishment of the Global South NGO Platform in Baku has turned Azerbaijan into a hub for civil society institutions at the international level. In his congratulatory address to the participants of the founding conference, President Ilham Aliyev emphasized Azerbaijan’s strategic role and its importance to the Global South.

The fact that the National NGO Forum of Azerbaijan initiated this effort demonstrates the maturity and proactiveness of the country’s civil society institutions. It is also a clear result of the strategic vision and operational philosophy of the Agency for State Support to NGOs. The agency has evolved into a modern institution that tracks global trends and responds to them with agility.

April 28 marked a historic moment for the National NGO Forum of Azerbaijan. On that day, the Forum’s Chairman, Ramil Iskandarli, was elected as the interim Secretary-General of the Global South NGO Platform for a one-year term. The platform will bring together NGOs from developing countries, enabling their voices to be heard more strongly on the international stage. This reflects Azerbaijan’s approach based on the principles of global justice and equality.

A new model of international cooperation is beginning to take shape in Baku — one that aims to address the shared challenges of the Global South, facilitate information and experience exchange, and implement joint projects. This platform is expected to become one of the main coordination centers for collaborative efforts in the humanitarian, social, and environmental fields in the future.

The steps taken by Azerbaijan in this direction once again prove that the country aspires to global leadership not only in political and economic spheres but also in the development of civil society. Baku’s emergence as a center for international NGO platforms is a clear manifestation of this leadership.

Бакинский рабочий