Press Releases - 2006


Press Releases Archive - 2006
AIESEC partners with EU "In Transit" film project
Film to promote intercultural dialogue on European Union’s 50th anniversary


ROTTERDAM, November 29, 2006—AIESEC has partnered with the European Community Film and Communications Project, In Transit, to promote the 50th anniversary of the European Union.

In Transit aims to promote European integration through intercultural dialogue, cultural diversity and enhanced citizen participation in public life and decision-making through a short digital film and interactive website (http://www.in-transit.org).

The film revolves around a young British man and an East European woman who are sharing a carriage on a train from Brussels speeding eastwards across Europe. These people are at personal and professional crossroads in their life, with many of their dilemmas reflecting the challenges facing Europe as a whole. The shooting of this film will be completed in the coming months and the premiere will take place during the official celebrations for the 50th Anniversary of the European Union in March 2007.

AIESEC members will be involved through the interactive “virtual train” which has been designed to encourage young people to talk about Europe and what it means to them on the occasion of the 50th Anniversary of the European Union. This will be a learning environment for AIESEC members in our European region, who are currently working on a project with the European Union to engage and connect youth across the EU borders.

“The AIESEC community is like a borderless society, and fostering cultural understanding is one of our core values, which makes this project interesting for our members. It will be a platform for AIESEC members to engage with other European youth to discuss the challenges and solutions they see facing European youth today, and how this has changed over the past 50 years,” said Michelle Gallant, Vice President Communication of AIESEC International.

The project will be launched November 29, 2006 at an event held jointly by the European Parliament – Commission.

About In Transit
In-Transit’ is a non-profit European Community Film and Communications project, which aims to promote European integration through intercultural dialogue, cultural diversity and enhanced citizen participation in public life and decision-making. To achieve these goals, the project uses a short digital film and the interactive website: http://www.in-transit.org. A number of MEPs, including Josep Borell, President European Parliament, Dr. Ingo Friedrich, Vice-President European Parliament, Manolis Mavrommatis, Vice-Chairmain of the Committee on Culture and Education, and Commissioners, Mrs. Viviane Reding, Mrs. Margot Wallström, Mrs. Benita Ferrero-Waldner and Mr Jan Figel enthusiastically support the project.

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AIESEC is a voice for youth at BAWB forum

AIESEC is a voice for youth at Business as an Agent of World Benefit Forum

CLEVELAND (October 26, 2006)—The important role that youth play in shaping the future of business, was highlighted this past week by AIESEC at the Business as an Agent of World Benefit (BAWB) Forum in Cleveland, Ohio.

In an interview, Georg Kell, Executive Head of the UN Global Compact said that “AIESEC in particular has been ground breaking in bringing issues such as Corporate Responsibility from being a sidelined topic to one that is central to business management. It is the kind of students that are part of AIESEC that have influenced the mainstream business schools to be part of an event such as this.”

Kell emphasized the importance of young leaders as agents of positive change by raising awareness of the issues that will impact their generation in their interaction with current leaders in business and academics.

Twenty four of AIESEC’s top members were selected to participate in the forum as the leading youth voice on the theme of the conference. Together with leaders in the corporate, civic and academic sector, they challenged the current state of corporate citizenship, envisioned possibilities for the future, and mapped out strategies for leveraging corporate citizenship activities. Seven of AIESEC members were also in the role of facilitators.

Together with Deans of business schools and other leaders in management education, Brodie Boland, President of AIESEC from June 2005 - July 2006, addressed the plenary under the topic, Management Knowledge Leading Positive Change. AIESEC was held up as an exemplary education initiative and Boland highlighted the fact that an academic degree alone was not sufficient education for the leaders that are needed by society today and in the future.

About the BAWB Forum

Organized by the United Nations Global Compact, the Academy of Management and the Case Weatherhead School of Management, the BAWB brought together over 400 top business leaders and educators in the field of corporate citizenship to look at ways of conducting business that is both profitable and successful in addressing the world's most pressing social needs. The event theme was Management Knowledge Leading Positive Change and ran from October 22 – 25 at the Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio. More information about the Business as a World Benefit including the virtual forum can be found online at: http://www.bawbglobalforum.org/about/virtualforum

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AIESEC meets the Prime Minister of Georgia

Government of Georgia supportive of AIESEC activities

TBILISHI (November 1, 2006)—The Prime Minister of Georgia, Zurab Nogaideli, met with representatives of AIESEC last week to discuss how the government in Georgia can support AIESEC activities.

Pinar Akiskalioglu, Director of Strategy for AIESEC International along with Irakli Kobalia and Rusudan Kardava, respectively President and External Relations Coordinator of the Official Expansion of AIESEC in Georgia met with the Prime Minister to share their opinions on the potential of youth in the region and AIESEC’s current start up initiatives in the country.


AIESEC meets the Prime Minister of Georgia.
L – R: Irakli Kobalia (President of Official Expansion of AIESEC in Georgia), Prime Minister of Georgia Zurab Nogaideli, Pinar Akiskalioglu (AI Director of Strategy) and Rusudan Kardava (External Relations Coordinator, Official Expansion of AIESEC in Georgia).

In the twenty minute meeting AIESEC representatives explained the initiatives of the organization in developing young Georgian talent. AIESEC activities have been underway in Georgia for just under two years, driven by passionate youth who see the positive impact that AIESEC can make in their communities and in developing young leaders in their country.

In the official meeting, the Prime Minister expressed how supportive the young Georgian government is on the activities of young people and organizations such as AIESEC, which was echoed by the Prime Minister’s External Relations advisor, Gocha Lortqipanidze, who was also present at the meeting.

This year is critical in the official establishment of AIESEC in Georgia, who currently hold “ Official Extension” status. The Official Extension of AIESEC in Georgia will be eligible to gain full membership rights within two years provided they fulfil necessary membership criteria, including proper organizational structure and number of exchanges that have been made.

“The Prime Minister assured me that AIESEC in Georgia will not just become an official part of the network, but a successful one,” recalls Pinar Akiskalioglu, Director of Strategy for AIESEC International. “I think the youth in Georgia have a lot of potential, which can only be furthered by matching them with AIESEC to help them further develop themselves. With the government supporting the initiatives in this regard, I think the opportunities for Georgian youth are endless.”

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Bahrain and Qatar join AIESEC network

AIESEC expands its network to include Bahrain and Qatar

AIESEC grows to over 95 countries worldwide

ROTTERDAM, September 18, 2006—AIESEC expanded its network to include Bahrain and Qatar at the recent International Congress, held in Warsaw, Poland earlier this month. The AIESEC network now spans over 95 countries worldwide.

Bahrainand Qatar have started AIESEC activities over the recent years thanks to the support of AIESEC in the United States, who began the initiative to create a volunteer culture among the youth of the Middle East.

“Qatar has one of the fastest growing economies in the world, and currently in a transformation state as a former pearl-fishing centre to a business centre. In a time of such challenges AIESEC’s contribution can add tremendous value by developing leaders the society desperately needs: leaders, who are able to guide the country through the transformation process and take it to the next level,” says Kristina Janjic, President of the Official Expansion for AIESEC in Qatar.

“ Expanding AIESEC to Bahrain demonstrates the versatility that the organization holds in its nature. The role of AIESEC in the Middle East is fairly obvious to AIESEC, and as a global organization, we cannot afford not to have a presence in this region. As one of the newest additions to the AIESEC network, I see AIESEC in Bahrain being a positive contributor in the network through unique contributions ranging from complex best-case practices such as Islamic Banking to the sheer hospitality of the Bahraini people,” says Claude Clodomir, President of the Official Expansion for AIESEC in Bahrain.

Both Bahrain and Qatar have gained Official Extension status, officially recognizing their efforts to join the global network. They will be eligible to gain full membership rights within two years provided they fulfil necessary membership criteria, including proper organizational structure and number of exchanges that have been made.

The addition of Bahrain and Qatar was approved along with the official recognition of an additional region in the AIESEC network—the Middle East and North Africa growth network will now bring together current AIESEC Member Committees, Egypt, Tunisia, Morocco, UAE as well as an initiative to the expansion in Jordan. The recognition of Middle East and North Africa as an official region in the AIESEC network coincides with AIESEC’s increased relevance in this area of the world.

The historic move took place at International Congress, AIESEC’s largest congress of the year, bringing together over 600 members from across all countries in the network. The conference was held in Warsaw, Poland and ran from August 24 to September 4, 2006.

AIESEC members invited to key events as representatives of youth leadership

AIESEC members invited to key events as representatives of youth leadership

With an ever increasing role and relevance that AIESEC is playing in today’s global society, AIESEC members are continuously asked to participate in top events as a representative of youth leadership, entrepreneurship and positive change. AIESEC’s participation in events such as the European Bahá'í Business Forum, Economic Forum for Young Leaders and the TiE-ISB Connect 2006 exemplify the high regard these and other organizations have for the talented and bright-minded individuals that exist within the organization—truly leaders doing their part to make an impact on society.

AIESEC and European Bahá'í Business Forum

Cornelia Raportaru , Vice President Exchange and Jeanne du Plessis, Global Networks Manager, both of AIESEC International were invited to participate as representatives of youth leadership at the recent European Bahá'í Business Forum (EBBF) in the Netherlands.

EBBF is a nongovernmental organization and an exclusive network of over 300 men and women in business in over sixty countries – which recently held their annual conference with the main topic of discussion being: The Purpose of business: From Vision to Action , from the 21 -24 of September in Neijmegen, The Netherlands.

Raportaru took part in a panel on the topic: “In Search of the Real Purpose of Business” and her role was to add a youth perspective. Further on in the conference Du Plessis made a presentation on AIESEC covering our current activities and Learning Networks, explaining how these activities provide young people access to life changing opportunities that enable them to become leaders that are socially responsible, entrepreneurial, culturally sensitive and active learners. She also fortified the presentation with practical examples of alumni.

All in all, AIESEC has been associated with EBBF in very many ways, and this is clear with one look at their Annual Report [http://www.ebbf.org/documents/ANNUALREPORT2005.pdf] which clearly outlines how EBBF recognizes AIESEC for playing the role of developing young and dynamic socially responsible leaders.

AIESEC at the Economic Forum for Young Leaders

AIESEC alumni, Peter Heinzel (Member Committee President, AIESEC in Austria 2005-2006) along with two other AIESEC members from Poland and Bosnia and Herzegovina attended the Economic Forum for Young Leaders in Poland, September 6 – 10, 2006.

The forum was a platform linking the cooperation between the organizations of Eastern and Western Europe. It was first of all a tribune of opinions, views and visions of the young generation of Europeans on essential problems of the present day.

AIESEC members, invited as representatives of youth opinion, had the opportunity to engage in the debates of the 16 th Economic Forum in Keynica and panel discussions, workshops, the exchange of social action and programs of activities, and a fair of organizations.

Key participants of the forum included Jacques Attali (former adviser to the President of France), Jerzy Buzek (legate to the European Parliament from the EPL, Prime Minister of Poland 1997-2001), Mikulas Dzurinda (Prime Minister of Slovakia 1998-2006), Michel Saakaszwili (the President of Georgia), Jean Claude Trichet (President of the European Central Bank), among many others.

AIESEC at the the TiE-ISB Connect 2006

The TiE-ISB Connect is India’s largest networking event for entrepreneurs and investors, that was held from September 20 - 22, 2006 at the ISB Campus in Hyderabad, India.

The ISB is a platinum partner for AIESEC in India’s Entrepreneurship Initiative, and thanks to this AIESEC in India sent 12 representatives to attend this unique forum as representatives of budding high potential entrepreneurs and young leaders.

The forum enabled aspiring entrepreneurs, early-stage ventures and growth-stage ventures to interact with potential investors, successful entrepreneurs and mentors.

The event had a host of speakers right from Dr. Y. Rajasekhar Reddy, Chief Minister for the state of Andhra Pradesh Hyderabad to business leaders such as Mr. B. Ramalinga Raju of Satyam Computer Services and diplomats like Mr. David Hopper, US Consulate General.

Former President of Poland, Lech Walesa speaks to delegates at International Congress

On Learning Networks Day – Solidarity for the Future, Lech Walesa, former President of Poland (1990-1995) addressed the delegates of International Congress 2006 to kick off the start of the day. Following the speech by the founder of the Solidarity Movement simultaneous discussion panels and sessions took place in the areas of Education, Finance, Corporate Social Responsibility, HIV/AIDS and Energy. Lech Walesa also spoke at the last International Congress held in Poland in 1996.

 

AIESEC makes Warsaw the Capital of the World between Aug 24 - Sept 3

WARSAW , August 14, 2006—AIESEC will make Warsaw the capital of the world from August 24 to September 3 running the annual AIESEC International Congress, bringing together over 700 students from over 90 countries.

Through a series of discussions and seminars with global business, cultural, science, political and NGO leaders, top youth talent from AIESEC—the world’s largest student organization—w ill have a unique opportunity to exchange opinions and discuss the most relevant issues affecting today’s world.

In an effort to engage more of AIESEC’s 20,000 student members, a virtual platform for the conference will be available for congress delegates to share their experiences via blogs, online chats and video messaging, and members not in attendance can browse session materials online at http://www.live.ic2006.pl.

The theme of the conference this year is Solidarity for the Future , signifying the need for cooperation between different stakeholders for a better future full of understanding and tolerance for different cultures in the world. The light where different people with different cultural backgrounds, opportunities and challenges sit together to discuss crucial matters for the benefit of the world is what signifies the essence of Solidarity for the Future.

Lech Walesa, former President of Poland (1990-1995) and founder of the Solidarity Movement will address participants during the congress at the start of Learning Networks Day – Solidarity for the Future on August 28. Simultaneous discussion panels and sessions will take place in the areas of Education, Finance, Corporate Social Responsibility, HIV/AIDS and Energy.

Other participants that day include Andrew Fiddaman , Marketing Director of Youth Business International (YBI), a program of The Prince of Wales International Business Leaders Forum; Richard Baird , Global Managing Partner, PricewaterhouseCoopers and Jan Krzysztof Bielecki, CEO Bank PEKAO S.A.

President attends 'future leaders' conference in Afganisthan

Brodie Boland, President of AIESEC International recently attended a conference organized for students in Kabul to present them with leadership training and various career development opportunities.At the conference Brodie spoke about ethical leadership – "The leadership that you provide must be that which values both the history and culture of your own country, while neither rejecting nor blindly accepting the perspectives, innovations, and values from outside your boundaries."

This was the first time AIESEC organized this conference, which took place on the 16th and 17th of April in KabulUniversity.

There were over 400 students present at the conference who enthusiastically engaged in various discussions about leadership and business practices.

In addition to the conference, Brodie had several meetings with AIESEC in Afganisthan to assist the country in its sustainable development to provide higher national and international leadership opportunities to the youth in Afganisthan . In addition, Brodie was present to support this new AIESEC country, as part of the global efforts of AIESEC to expand into a number of countries in which it is not yet present but greatly needed.

"It was inspiring for me to experience the warm hospitality, resilient optimism, and humble determination of the people of Afghanistan. Although the aftermath of the years of conflict is apparent, so is the commitment of the people - especially the young - to create for themselves a future worthy of the sacrifices of previous generations" as Brodie speaks about his visit.

AIESEC in Afghanistan is one of the most recent countries into which AIESEC has expanded, which include; Jordan, Lebanon, Bahrain, Qatar, Pakistan, Tanzania and the United Arab Emirates.

Posting date 2006.05.22

President of Colombia speaks at AIESEC conference

(Bogota, March 24th, 2006)– In Bogota, AIESEC organized an event where students from all over Latin America gathered to discuss and analyze initiatives prone to increase awareness on socially responsible leadership as well as other internal AIESEC activities. This event was opened with the presence of Dr. Alvaro Uribe Velez, President of Colombia.

This was Dr. Velez first visit to an AIESEC event and he spoke passionately about the need for responsible leadership.  

“Today’s leaders need to act based on four behavior guidelines which lead to build credibility: Consistency, Coherence, Competency and Caring. Moreover, in our modern context, we need to learn how to be disciplined and transparent, make difficult things with love and humbleness” as said by Mr. Velez.

Mr. Velez took the opportunity to address students from around 15 countries from Latin America. The students, who have newly selected leadership positions in AIESEC, are attending a conference to gain knowledge and skills to equip their leadership terms.

This is not the first time an AIESEC event has had the presence and endorsement from a President or Prime Minister. Later this year, at International Congress hosted by Polandin August 2006 former Presidents, Aleksander Kwasniewski and Lech Walesa have confirmed to attend the conference and would be speaking at the event.

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Posting date 2006.05.04

Executives and Students discuss developing talent in emerging markets

(AMSTERDAM , February 20, 2006 )–Students from over 50 countries will gather with executives from over 40 international companies at the AIESEC Global Symposium on February 20 inAmsterdam, to discuss developing talent in emerging markets.At this event, AIESEC, the world’s largest student organization, will be a global voice for youth on the increasing war on talent, and how this creates opportunities for corporations in these countries.  

The purpose of the symposium is to facilitate discussion among high potential young leaders around the world and AIESEC’s corporate network to co-create the future and bridge the gap between corporations and students.

Topics of discussion at the event include the increasing competition for top jobs with graduates from all over the world, as well as opinions from business experts on how to retain and capture worldwide talent.The increasing war on talent will also be addressed at the event by the 23-year-old President of AIESEC International, Brodie Boland.

Organizations including The World Bank, DHL, PricewaterhouseCoopers, Capgemini, Alcatel, Inbev and Cadbury Schweppes will be present in the symposium to address the effects that developing talent in emerging markets will have in corporations around the world.

The key-note speakers of this event will include Hans Van Grieken, Vice-President Business Innovation Network, Capgemini; Richard Baird, Global Human Capital Co-Leader PricewaterhouseCoopers and Andrew Fiddaman, Prince of Wales International Business Leaders Forum.

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Posting date: 2006.02.13

Organization moves from 90 to 95 countries

AIESEC, the worlds largest student organization has officially expanded its 90 country network to 5 more countries to provide leadership opportunities to students in those countries. At their International Presidents Meeting which was held in Netherlands, AIESEC inducted Azerbaijan, Kyrgyzstan, MoldovaTajikistan and Georgia into its network.  

There were representatives present from each of these countries at the international conference. They spent their time at the conference speaking to countries about their achievements and successes. They also stresses about the need for AIESEC to recognize the group of young people in that country who have done all the ground work to start AIESEC activities in that country.

AIESEC formally recognized 5 countries out of the 9 countries that applied as countries in which there is enough support to start a sustainable country which would develop youth in its country. There are over 10 other countries interested in joining the AIESEC network, but each one is required to fulfil the criteria of a feasibility report which would prove to the current AIESEC network that an expansion would be sustainable and add to impact AIESEC wants to create in the world. AIESEC will review the feasibility reports of each of those countries every 6 months.

Each of the new countries has been assigned a partner country within the AIESEC network to help build activities and impact in the extending countries. Every partner country is responsible for inducting the extending country into the network and also provided financial and human resources to the new countries to start operations in their markets.

AIESEC is already recognized as the world’s largest student organization by the UN, in terms of its physical network, and it has increased the organization’s scope of impact to 5 more countries taking its total country network tally to 95.

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New Global President elected for AIESEC International

Edyson Dos Santos, the current Director for Africa on AIESEC International was elected the new President for AIESEC International. The global organization in which leadership changes every year, elected its new President in Netherlands with over 50 countries participating in its democratic way of providing youth leadership opportunities.  

Edyson’s election was a 3 day process which included a chat on world issues hosted by Jennifer Corriero, founder of Taking It Global and ended in ballot voting by the national representatives of the AIESEC countries.  

The President of AIESEC International is the apex leadership position who is responsible for the direction of the organization. The new President further selects his team, which will make the new global leadership team for 2006-07, based on his vision and direction to which he and his team will lead 90 countries and 20,000 members.

“There will hardly be another momentum as today for AIESEC to capitalize on strengths and networks. As a result of a global change process that has been finalized successfully, we move ahead today with a clearly defined core of practices that define AIESEC as an organization that is shaping humanity by delivering high caliber young leadership to all spheres of society worldwide” says Edyson about the current state of AIESEC.

Originally from Venezuela, Edyson’s AIESEC Experience spans over 4 countries. He has been on the National team of Venezuela, Ecuador, Peru and Macedonia in different capacities of responsibilities.

Edyson will assume his responsibilities starting August 2006 and he will take over from Brodie Boland, the current President of AIESEC International. In the meantime Edyson will fulfil his duties as Director for Africa.

AIESEC hosts annual meeting in the Netherlands

AIESEC, the world’s largest student organization, will host the annual International Presidents Meeting 2006 in The Netherlands, February 22 – March 3, bringing together the top talent of the organization across its 90-country network.  

The 10-day meeting held in Soesterberg and hosted by AIESEC The Netherlands, brings together the current and incoming national committee presidents across AIESEC globally. The purpose of the annual meeting is for AIESEC’s leaders to discuss global organizational strategies, create new country partnerships and elect new international leadership for the next year.

The conference theme—Driven by Diversity—was chosen to address the current multicultural issues currently being faced in the Netherlands. As the world’s largest student organization spanning every continent, AIESEC celebrates and experiences diversity in its daily work.

The Opening Ceremony event, to be held at the Carré Theatre in Amsterdam on February 22 from 9:30 – 13:00, will feature a member of the Royal House along with the Minister of Development Aid, Minister van Ardenne -van der Hoeven. To touch on the conference theme, both speakers will address a crowd of over 300 international students about how they “experience” diversity in their own lives and work.

Members of Dutch society will have the chance to live diversity at the Global Village event, to be held at Beurs van Berlage in Amsterdam on March 1.Over 200 primary and secondary school children will join the interactive cultural fair, where attendees can “travel around the world in three hours” by tasting food, seeing traditional clothing and watching cultural dances.

The Formal Dinner event concludes the annual meeting, and will feature Honourary Life President of the ACP-EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly, Mr. John Corrie as the keynote speaker. The dinner will be held on March 2 at the Spoorwegmuesum in Utrecht.

The agenda of the conference for media reference:

Date and time

Place

Activity

February 22

9:30 – 13:00

Carré Theatre

Amstel 115-125

Amsterdam

Opening Ceremony, speeches by member of Royal House and Minister van Ardenne-van der Hoeven.

February 24

21:30

Kontakt der Kontinenten

Amersfoortsestraat 20

Soesterberg

President of AIESEC International election announcement

March 1

13:30 – 17:00

Beurs van Berlage

Damrak 277, Amsterdam

Global Village, Dutch schoolchildren participate in cultural event

March 2

19:30 – 22:30

Spoorwegmuseum

Maliebaanstation, Utrecht

Formal Dinner event, keynote speaker Mr. John Corrie

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AIESEC alumnus, elected as new President of Portugal

Portugal's former centre-right prime minister Anibal Cavaco Silva, who has vowed to help revive a stagnant economy, narrowly won a presidential election on Sunday in the first round, official results showed.

Mr. Silva, the former Prime Minister of Portugal held the democratic position of a Prime Minister for 10 years. Though Mr. Silva’s leadership experience and positions started in way back to when he was in university and was a member of AIESEC. He was Vice-President of the AIESEC local office in ISCEF, Lisbon. Mr. Silva joined AIESEC in 1959 and through participating in various activities developed his network and his leadership skills.

Mr. Silva was also involved in the expansion of AIESEC in Brazil and Africa. He went on to work for the organization for 2 years during his university life.

Apart from bring involved in work, it is through AIESEC that Mr.Silva was able to build his network in and outside Portugal by participating in various national conferences in Portugal.

He has always admired AIESEC and still supports the organization through way of an endorsement. The last time he said ‘“AIESEC is an open space for achievements in the modern world for young students of economics and management”.

Mr. Silva is an alumnus of AIESEC and is one of the many political leaders this organization has give the initial platform to gain leadership experience. Some of the other leaders in the world that are alumni of the organization are Mr. Maarti Athisaari, former President of Finland, Mr. Aleksander Kwasniewski, former President of Poland, Helmut Kohl, former chancellor of Germany and many more.

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Posting date 2006.01.25

AIESEC in Azerbaijan

Present in over 800 universities in 90 countries and territories, AIESEC, the world's largest student organization, is the international platform for young people to discover and develop their potential so as to have a positive impact in society. Towards this aim, AIESEC runs more than 350 conferences, provides 3,500 work abroad opportunities, and offers over 5,000 leadership positions to its members each year. The partner organizations look at AIESEC as a way to support the development of young people and to have access to high-potential young talent from around the world.

AIESEC is expanding to new territories and with the hard work and dedication of a small group of young Azerbaijanis, led by Bakhtiyar Hajiyev, Azerbaijan is now among potential member countries, which have applied for official membership. On December 21, 2005 this group of young Azerbaijani students organized and held an official presentation of AIESEC and establishment of its chapter in Azerbaijan. The event was held in Excelsior hotel and was attended by more than 100 guests, including company executives, Ministers, Members of Parliament, local dignitaries, NGO representatives and mass media. The official speeches during the presentation were made by Minister of Youth, Sports and Tourism - Abulfaz Qarayev, Minister of Education – Misir Mardanov, newly-elected Member of Parliament - Ganira Pashayeva, Representative of AIESEC Azerbaijan - Bakhtiyar Hajiyev, Global Coordinator of PricewaterhouseCoopers and AIESEC – Norica Buzoi, Vice President of AIESEC Turkey- Birtan Cetinoz and other high-level guests.

According to Mr. Hajiyev, “AIESEC will be holding a global meeting in Rotterdam on February 2006 where potential member countries will be considered, discussed and approved. Establishment of a branch office in Azerbaijan and acceptance of Azerbaijan as a member country to AIESEC International will be on agenda. In order for us to introduce AIESEC and to share information about the benefits of its activities with representatives of local companies, governmental and non-governmental institutions in Azerbaijan, we decided to hold this event. Also, it is vital for a branch of an organization like AIESEC to have local support from potential sponsors, the government and mass media, as this is one of the main criteria for membership.”

It is important to note that this event would not have been possible, if not the financial and moral support, as well as encouragement of youth initiatives by Ministry of Youth, Sports and Tourism and personally Minister - Mr. Abulfaz Garayev. Photos from the event are available here .

For more information about AIESEC, please visit: www.aiesec.org
For more information about AIESEC in Azerbaijan, please e-mail: aiesecaze@hotmail.com

Bakhtiyar Hajiyev
AIESEC Initiative Group in Azerbaijan
aiesecaze@hotmail.com
+99450 644 11 31

Photo: (left to right)Team leader of AIESEC group in Azerbaijan - Mr. Bakhtiyar Hajiyev, Minister of Youth, Sports and Tourism - Mr.Abulfaz Qarayev, Minister of Education – Mr.Misir Mardanov, newly-elected Member of Parliament - Mrs. Ganira Pashayeva, Deputy Minister of Youth, Mr. Intigam Babayev

Posting date: 20.01.2006