Jabbarov calls for stronger public-private ties to fight digital financial crime

Expanding the exchange of operational information between financial intelligence units and relevant authorities in Azerbaijan is of key importance for improving the effectiveness of efforts to combat financial crime, Azerbaijanchr("39")s Minister of Economy Mikayil Jabbarov, Olaylar informs.

While addressing the 32nd Plenary Meeting of the Egmont Group, the global organization uniting financial intelligence units, held in Baku and organized by the Financial Monitoring Service, Jabbarov said that strengthening partnerships between the public and private sectors is equally important in this regard.

Chair of the Egmont Group Elżbieta Franków-Jaśkiewicz said the event serves as an important platform where financial intelligence units come together to exchange views and reinforce their joint efforts in combating financial crime.

The floor was then given to Financial Action Task Force (FATF) President Giles Thomson, who emphasized the importance of international cooperation, the timely exchange of financial intelligence, and global partnerships in the fight against financial crime.

Chairman of Azerbaijanchr("39")s Financial Monitoring Service Zaur Fatizada said Azerbaijan is pleased to host representatives of the Egmont Group in Baku.

"We are confident that the discussions held here will make a significant contribution to further strengthening international cooperation and advancing our joint efforts to combat financial crime," he said.

One of the main themes of the 2026 Plenary Meeting was strengthening public-private partnerships in response to the evolving nature of financial crime. In this context, participants exchanged views on enhancing information sharing and developing mechanisms for joint action among financial intelligence units, law enforcement and supervisory authorities, and representatives of the financial sector.

The Egmont Group is an international organization that brings together financial intelligence units from around the world. It promotes the secure exchange of information among its members, supports professional development, and strengthens international cooperation in combating financial crime.

The event, held from July 5 to 10, brought together heads of financial intelligence units from various countries, as well as representatives of international organizations. Discussions during the plenary session and the meetings of the Working and Regional Groups focused on strengthening international cooperation in combating money laundering and terrorist financing (AML/CFT), current challenges facing the financial intelligence community, and future priorities in the field.