Farhad Garashov
Farhad Arif oglu Garashov (born 12 December 1986, Baku) is an Azerbaijani businessman and Doctor of Philosophy in economics. He served as chairman of the Association of Pomegranate Producers and Exporters of Azerbaijan and chairman of the Public Council under the Small and Medium Business Development Agency of the Republic of Azerbaijan (2018–2024).
Early life and education
Garashov was born on 12 December 1986 in Baku, Azerbaijan. From 2003 to 2007, he studied international economic relations at the Azerbaijan State University of Economics (UNEC), where he obtained a bachelor's degree. From 2007 to 2010, he pursued a master's degree in international trade at UNEC.
From 2008 to 2012, Garashov studied law at Baku State University, completing a second degree. In 2016–2017, he studied business administration at Anglia Ruskin University in the United Kingdom, where he obtained an MBA degree.
Public activities
In 2017, Farhad Garashov was elected chairman of the board of the Association of Pomegranate Producers and Exporters of Azerbaijan. In July 2018, he became chairman of the supervisory board of the 21st Century International Education and Innovation Center.
From 2018 to 2024, Garashov served as chairman of the Public Council under the Small and Medium Business Development Agency of the Republic of Azerbaijan. In 2018, he was elected a member of the board of the National Confederation of Entrepreneurs (Employers') Organizations of the Republic of Azerbaijan.
In 2020, Garashov was elected a member of the Public Council under the Food Safety Agency of the Republic of Azerbaijan. He was also elected a member of the audit committee of the Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of the Turkic States.
From 2021 to 2023, he served as secretary of the Public Council under the Ministry of Economy of the Republic of Azerbaijan. He is also a member of the Statistical Council under the State Statistical Committee, established pursuant to Resolution No. 356 of the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Azerbaijan dated 19 November 2021.
Awards and honours
In 2017, the Association of Pomegranate Producers and Exporters of Azerbaijan, chaired by Farhad Garashov, was recognized as the "Most Active Association of the Year" by the Azerbaijan Export and Investment Promotion Foundation.
On 3 June 2019, Garashov was awarded the Taraggi Medal by a decree of President İlham Aliyev for his contribution to the economic development of the Republic of Azerbaijan and his effective activities in implementing state policy aimed at expanding entrepreneurship.