Baku: A Women’s Creativity Forum was held in Baku as part of the ongoing ‘OIC Cultural Festival: Baku Creative Week-2025,’ organized by the Ministry of Culture of Azerbaijan and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), in partnership with the Heydar Aliyev Foundation.
According to Azerbaijan State News Agency, the forum was co-organized by the Ministry of Culture of Azerbaijan, the Women Development Organization (WDO) of the OIC, the Women’s Entrepreneurship Development Association in Azerbaijan (AQSIA), and the Creative Azerbaijan platform. Notable attendees included Leyla Aliyeva, Vice-President of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation; Smeyye Erdogan Bayraktar, KADEM Chair of the Board of Trustees; and Afnan Al-Shuaiby, Executive Director of the WDO, along with female innovators and entrepreneurs from Kazakhstan, Bahrain, and Uzbekistan.
In her opening address, Afnan Al-Shuaiby expressed her gratitude to the organizers and emphasized the crucial role of women in shaping a knowledge-based society. She reaffirmed the commitment to supporting women’s empowerment and contributions, stating that the mission is to enable women to realize their potential as entrepreneurs and cultural innovators.
Smeyye Erdogan Bayraktar highlighted women’s central role in creativity, stressing that women are key to passing down cultural heritage across generations. She cited examples like Azerbaijan’s art of carpet weaving and Turkish motifs in art as demonstrations of women’s historical role in creativity.
AQSIA Chairwoman Sakina Babayeva described the forum as an ideal platform for exploring opportunities and future prospects for women in the creative field, noting the strong state support in Azerbaijan.
The forum featured a conceptual visual composition inspired by Mevlana Jalaluddin Rumi’s quote, showcased with works by artist Leyla Aliyeva and contributions from Honored Artist Sabina Shikhlinskaya and music composer Orkhan Aghayev (DJ Pancho).
Discussions at the forum covered enhancing global trade for women in creative industries and the role of innovation, technology, and investment in women’s empowerment. Speakers highlighted support for women entrepreneurs, strengthening global ties, and leveraging innovation for economic growth, emphasizing a shared commitment to women’s leadership in creative fields and fostering international cooperation.