Baku Stock Exchange has officially become a full member of the World Federation of Exchanges (WFE).

The announcement was made during the 64th WFE General Assembly & Annual Meeting, held on 21–23 October 2025 in Istanbul, Türkiye, where the Baku Stock Exchange participated alongside leading exchanges, clearing houses, and regulators from around the world.

Becoming a full member of the WFE marks an important step in the Baku Stock Exchange’s path toward modernization, transparency, and global integration.

As an affiliate member, Baku Stock Exchange started the process of full membership with a strategic vision to position the Exchange as a regional leader committed to credibility, transparency, and strong governance standards. 

To meet the WFE’s rigorous criteria, BSE conducted comprehensive internal assessments to align its trading infrastructure, market supervision, and governance with global best practices. 

The WFE then conducted a multi-stage evaluation, including reviews of BSE’s systems and market operations. Throughout the process, BSE engaged actively with WFE’s Development & Technical Review (DTR) team, presenting its market transformation strategy, data infrastructure projects, and regional cooperation initiatives such as the KASE Data Hub partnership and the Data Warehouse project.

This extensive work and transparent engagement led to the WFE General Assembly’s approval of the Baku Stock Exchange’s full membership, recognizing the Exchange’s operational maturity, regulatory integrity, and contribution to the development of Azerbaijan’s capital markets.

During the event, Mr. Ruslan Khalilov, CEO of the Baku Stock Exchange, expressed gratitude to the WFE community, stating:

“Becoming a full member of the World Federation of Exchanges is not only a recognition of our progress but also an invitation to further innovation and collaboration. We are proud to represent Azerbaijan in the global exchange community and to continue advancing the standards of our market.”

Full membership in the WFE provides the Baku Stock Exchange with a wide range of strategic advantages, including:

• Access to international standards and best practices for market operation and governance;
• Participation in global dialogue on sustainable finance, digitalization, and market resilience;
• Enhanced visibility and credibility among global investors and financial institutions;
• Knowledge exchange and collaboration opportunities with other leading exchanges;
• Capacity to introduce new market products and instruments aligned with global trends;
• Improved investor confidence and integration into international market networks.

The World Federation of Exchanges (WFE) is the global industry association for exchanges and clearing houses. It represents over 250 market infrastructure providers, including the world’s leading stock, futures, and commodity exchanges, and works to promote fair, transparent, and efficient markets worldwide.