On December 13, 2017, the signing ceremony of the project document was held between the State Agency for Public Service and Social Innovations under the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the United Nations Development Program on "Support to the development of small family businesses in the Shaki-Zagatala Economic Zone through “ABAD” regional center in Balakan ".

Inam Karimov, the Chairman of the State Agency, opened the event, saying that in recent years, large-scale reforms in the socio-economic sphere, as well as in public administration are being implemented in our country. As part of these reforms, the new organization - "ASAN Service" was established on the personal initiative of President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Mr. Ilham Aliyev.

According to Inam Karimov, with the creation of these centers, the level of services provided to citizens has reached a new and better quality stage. The Chairman also noted that one of the next steps towards facilitating the lives of Azerbaijani citizens was the establishment of "ABAD" centers.

“ABAD” has a special place among the projects implemented to promote the development of small family businesses and farms and contribute to regional development. It is a new social innovation concept that envisages to support the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals and is a result of reforms in the field of social services in Azerbaijan," said Inam Karimov.

Later, Kestutis Jankauskas, head of the EU Delegation to Azerbaijan, said that ASAN Service is an effective project in Azerbaijan in regard to providing public services, fighting corruption and leading a good governance.  He expressed his satisfaction at collaborating with ASAN Service and ABAD public legal entity and wished success all parties in this regard.

UN Resident Coordinator in Azerbaijan and UNDP Resident Representative Gulam Isaczai congratulated the ASAN family on the occasion of the newly opened Guba "ASAN life" complex. He noted that ASAN Service, which is a brand of Azerbaijan, was awarded the first prize and diploma in the category of  "Improvement of public service provision" of the United Nations.

Ghulam Isaczai said that the goal of the project is to support the small and medim-sized  entrepreneurship ,  to increase employment rate  of population, to form competitive family farms in Shaki-Zagatala economic zone through promoting “ABAD” regional center in Balakan.

At the end of the event, Chairman of the State Agency for Public Service and Social Innovations under the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Mr.Inam Karimov and UN Resident Coordinator in Azerbaijan and UNDP Resident Representative Mr. Ghulam Isaczai signed a cooperation agreement on “Support to the development of small family businesses in the Shaki-Zagatala Economic Zone”.