The first day of INMerge Innovation Summit has taken place in Baku. Organized by PASHA Holding, the Summit sets a dynamic tone for two days of innovation, investment, and collaboration.
INMerge brings together policymakers, corporates, investors, startups, and ecosystem players from Azerbaijan, Türkiye, Georgia, Kazakhstan, and Uzbekistan. The summit welcomes more than 5,000 participants, 150 speakers, 100 startups, and over 80 venture funds, creating powerful opportunities for collaboration and growth.
This year’s program spanned eight key verticals – from Fintech and Responsible Banking to Data & AI, Industry 4.0, Telecom, Marketing, E-Commerce, and Investment. On the first day, distinguished global thought leaders such as Pixar’s Ed Catmull, Zack Kass, former Head of Go-to-Market at OpenAI, and Harvard professor Tarun Khanna attended and shared insights shaping the future of business and technology.
The opening ceremony was delivered by Mikayil Jabbarov – the Minister of Economy of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Rashad Nabiyev – the Minister of Digital Development and Transport of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Jalal Gasimov – CEO of PASHA Holding, and Tughra Musayeva – Head of Innovations at PASHA Holding.
Minister of Economy Mikayil Jabbarov shared his views on how technology and creativity open new avenues for development and enhance the knowledge and skills of human capital. He also provided information about the measures implemented in this direction in Azerbaijan, emphasizing that the Summit has evolved into a unique platform that connects innovative ideas with real opportunities. The Minister highlighted the achievements resulting from successful reforms carried out in Azerbaijan, noting that over the past 20 years, more than 344 billion USD has been invested in the country, of which over 210 billion USD was directed to the non-oil sector. Jalal Gasimov, the CEO of PASHA Holding described the event as the “leading innovation forum of Central Eurasia,” pointing out to its regional significance. He noted that over the past five years, InMerge has transformed from a small corporate gathering into a major event uniting professionals from different fields across Azerbaijan, Georgia, Türkiye, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and other countries in the region.
According to Jalal Gasimov, the summit is important not only for inspiring participants but also for education and knowledge exchange. “In a world changing faster than ever before, it is essential to cultivate a learning mindset, remain curious, and be able to ‘unlearn and relearn,’ turning ideas into action. Organizations and individuals fall behind not because of a lack of resources or ideas, but when they stop learning,” he noted.
The last panel discussion of the first day was dedicated to the importance of turning knowledge into national growth, where Emin Amrullayev – the Minister of Science and Education of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Dayanat Sadullayev – Deputy CEO of PASHA Holding, and Tarun Khanna – professor of Harvard Business School shared their thoughts on how education fuels entrepreneurship, drives innovation and contributes to sustainable national growth.
It is worth to mention that starting in early 2025 and prior to the main summit in Baku, INMerge had already expanded across the region through side events in Georgia, Türkiye, Kazakhstan, and Uzbekistan – building strong cross-border connections.
Founded in 2006 and headquartered in Baku, PASHA Holding invests in strategic non-oil sectors such as banking, insurance, real estate, IT, hospitality, and renewable energy. Operating in five countries – Azerbaijan, Türkiye, Georgia, Uzbekistan, and Montenegro – the Holding has nearly 20 subsidiaries and a workforce of over 20,000. As the summit’s organizer, the company continues to champion innovation and strengthen Azerbaijan’s role as a regional hub for technology, investment, and entrepreneurship.
