Women’s Creativity Forum highlights innovation and leadership in Baku
Women innovators, entrepreneurs, and cultural leaders from across the Islamic world convened in Baku this week for Women’s Creativity Forum
BAKU, Azerbaijan (MNTV) — Women innovators, entrepreneurs, and cultural leaders from across the Islamic world convened in Baku this week for the Women’s Creativity Forum, held as part of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) cultural festival Baku Creative Week – 2025, marking one of the most prominent regional platforms focused on women-led innovation and cultural leadership.
Organized jointly by Azerbaijan’s Ministry of Culture, the OIC Women Development Organization (WDO), the Association for the Development of Women’s Entrepreneurship in Azerbaijan, and the Creative Azerbaijan platform, the forum brought together senior representatives and thought leaders from Kazakhstan, Bahrain, Uzbekistan, Turkey, and several other OIC member states.
Among the high-profile attendees were Leyla Aliyeva, Vice President of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation; Sümeyye Erdoğan Bayraktar, Chairperson of the KADEM Women and Democracy Foundation; and Afnan Al-Shuaibi, Director General of the WDO.
In her opening address, Al-Shuaibi emphasized the critical role of women in building knowledge-based and innovation-driven societies. “Our main mission is to create conditions that allow women to discover and realize their potential. Women make a great contribution to the development of society both as entrepreneurs and as cultural innovators,” she said.
Sümeyye Erdoğan Bayraktar highlighted women’s historical contributions to cultural production, citing the centuries-old tradition of Azerbaijani carpet weaving and Turkish ceramic and art schools such as Iznik and Kütahya. “The values created by women are passed from generation to generation,” she said, linking heritage crafts to modern creative economies.
Sakina Babayeva, Chair of the Association for the Development of Women’s Entrepreneurship in Azerbaijan, said the forum provided a vital platform for identifying barriers facing women in creative industries and enhancing practical cooperation among OIC member states. “The main goal of the forum is to identify existing gaps and strengthen collaboration in this area,” she noted.
The event opened with a symbolic visual and musical performance inspired by the words of the 13th-century Sufi poet Mevlana Jalaluddin Rumi: “Step out of the circle of Time – enter the circle of Love.” The performance was based on artistic works by Leyla Aliyeva, conceptually designed by Honored Artist Sabina Shikhlinskaya, with a musical arrangement by Orkhan Agayev (DJ Pancho), blending contemporary sound with traditional themes.
Panel discussions focused on international trade opportunities for women-led creative enterprises, the role of emerging technologies in expanding women’s economic participation, and strategies for long-term cross-border cooperation. Speakers emphasized the importance of sustainability, digital innovation, and institutional support for women-led startups and cultural initiatives.
Participants concluded that strengthening women’s leadership in the creative economy is essential not only for cultural preservation but also for economic diversification across OIC countries. The forum reaffirmed the OIC’s broader commitment to expanding women’s participation in innovation, entrepreneurship, and cultural diplomacy.
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