The Development of Entrepreneurial Activity and its Role in Raising the Employment Level of the Population in the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic

Nigar Nasirli

Abstract. This article examines the relationship between entrepreneurial development and rising employment levels, with a concentrated focus on the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic. The argument is that entrepreneurship should not be assessed only through business registration. In a regional economy, its employment effect depends on formal labour contracts, access to finance, sectoral diversification, digital registration, local value chains and a wider taxpayer base. The research uses official indicators for 2022-2024 and calculates several baseline values from published growth rates. The evidence shows a sharp expansion in active taxpayers, VAT payers, cashless turnover and non-state sector employment contracts in Nakhchivan during 2024. These dynamics indicate both new business activity and the formalization of existing economic activity. The article concludes that stronger employment outcomes in Nakhchivan require entrepreneurship policy to be linked with vocational training, agro-processing, tourism, logistics, digital services and transparent tax administration.

Keywords: entrepreneurship, employment, Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic, SMEs, labour market, regional development