Dubai-based Yango Group invests $100 million in Azerbaijani market, expands its experience globally [EXCLUSIVE]

Since its inception in 2018 with ride-hailing solutions, Dubai based Yango Group has rapidly emerged as a global digital ecosystem including mobility, e-commerce, food delivery, fintech, entertainment, and more, across 30 countries in the Middle East, South Asia, Latin America, Africa and Europe. It focuses on transforming global technologies into everyday services by adapting cutting-edge solutions for each unique market.

In a special interview with Azernews, Adeniyi Adebayo, Chief Business Officer at Yango Group, and Mushvig Hasanov, Country Manager at Yango Azerbaijan, shared insights into Yango’s impressive journey, its rapid expansion across emerging markets, and the company’s forward-looking vision including Azerbaijani market.

Hyperlocality as one of the business development pillars

Adebayo explained that achieving scale in any business requires a strong foundation, much like building a tall structure: ‘The deeper the foundation, the more stories you can build. For Yango Group, this rests on four key elements: capital, technology, operations and local needs’.

Unlike many big tech companies that prioritized developed markets, Yango Group deliberately chose a different path. Seven years ago, the company committed to building in emerging markets, betting on their exponential growth potential. When Yango Ride entered Côte d’Ivoire in 2018, internet penetration was just 18%, smartphones cost roughly $1,000, and mobile internet data was prohibitively expensive. Yet, Yango saw what others missed: the rapid spread of Facebook and WhatsApp revealed pent-up demand for digitalisation, while falling device and mobile data costs would soon open the floodgates to more e-services. Today, smartphone penetration has risen to 70% and its cost has dropped fivefold, indeed opening up the market for explosive and rapid growth of digital platforms.

This philosophy of finding signals in hyperlocality has shaped Yango’s strategy and approach to market development. The company realised that ride-hailing is just one of the touchpoints in people’s daily lives. ‘The future is not in isolated services, the real opportunity lies in building a connected ecosystem – products that work together to make life more convenient and efficient, designed and localized for each market’. The results validate this thesis. Today, Yango operates in over 30 countries, enabling more than 2 million people to earn income through its platform, and serving over 50 million monthly users.

While many multinational companies struggle between offering a uniform international product or adapting locally, Yango prioritizes serving people where they are today, rather than expecting users to adapt to a global template. For instance, in Lima, Peru, where city zones form ‘mini cities’ due to social activity patterns, Yango designed mini zones within its app, allowing partner drivers to operate only within their preferred areas.

Another example is Pakistan, where Yango introduced a rickshaw tariff tapping into a cultural phenomenon deeply embedded in daily life. Rickshaws offer an affordable and flexible transport option, especially in the country’s busy urban areas. Yango also partnered with local artists to craft distinctive branding for the service, featuring vibrant artwork that reflects the community’s cultural essence. The goal was not only to promote this option but also to honor a deeply rooted tradition while making it easily accessible to users through the app.This approach embodies a broader philosophy: technology and products must adapt to users’ lives, not vice versa.

Hyperlocality then isn’t just about localization, it’s Yango’s way of turning global scale to local trust. ‘By embedding into communities, respecting local context, and creating services that feel like ‘our own’ in every market, our goal is to build foundations for enriching city living across the world’, says Adebayo.

He explained that Yango views its operations as part of broader ‘city services’ – how people move, pay, eat, and deliver in urban environments. The company actively brings together restaurants, taxi companies and transportation providers, delivery services, digital content providers, and more, helping them distribute through its platform. This inclusive philosophy makes partnerships fundamental to Yango Group’s DNA.

Partnership as the bedrock of growth

‘The company’s primary partnership is with the countries and cities where it operates, committing capital, innovation, and products to help digitize urban services and improve lives’ continues Adebayo. This foundational partnership extends to governments and citizens alike, ensuring services reflect local needs.

Yango is open to integrating its solutions directly into city infrastructure. In Lima, Bogotá and several other markets, Yango has partnered with local providers to install live bus tags, allowing residents to see in real time where buses are and when they will arrive. Since buses remain the backbone of urban transport in these cities, especially during rush hours, this simple integration has brought enormous convenience. Similar projects are under discussion in Baku and other cities.

Equally critical is Yango’s mapping and navigation infrastructure. Far from being an internal tool, Yango Maps is now widely used by partner taxi companies and integrated into city systems. By investing in the continuous local update of maps, traffic flows, and incident reporting, Yango not only helps drivers respond faster to road conditions but also provides cities with better visibility on how people move.

$100 million investments and forward-looking vision for Azerbaijani market

Yango Group has invested $100 million into the Azerbaijani market, underscoring its long-term commitment to the country’s digital transformation. Mushvig Hasanov, Country Manager at Yango Azerbaijan, highlighted the company’s rapid progress since its entry nearly three years ago: ‘We began with Yango Ride, and today Yango has grown into a super-app that streamlines everyday tasks. From ride-hailing to restaurant and grocery delivery, logistics, ‘Navigator’ for real-time traffic routing, and ‘Transport’ for public transit planning-everything is now available in one familiar app.’

This investment reinforces Yango’s role as both a technology partner and urban services enabler, bringing global innovation while tailoring solutions to Azerbaijan’s local needs.

Azerbaijan: a regional hub for innovation

Ruben Vardanyan’s trial in Baku continues with testimonies of victims and their families [PHOTOS]

The trial of Armenian national Ruben Vardanyan, charged under multiple articles of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Azerbaijan for crimes against peace and humanity, war crimes, terrorism, financing of terrorism, and other grave offenses, continued on September 30, Azernews reports.

The open hearing was held at the Baku Military Court under the chairmanship of Judge Zeynal Agayev, with judges Anar Rzayev and Jamal Ramazanov, and reserve judge Gunel Samedova. The defendant was provided with interpretation into Russian, his native language, and was represented by a lawyer of his choosing.

At the outset, Judge Agayev introduced the court panel, state prosecutors, interpreters, and others involved in the proceedings to the victims and their legal successors appearing for the first time, and explained their rights and obligations under the law.

The court noted that interpreter Islam Agakerimov, who had previously participated in the preparatory hearings, had notified the court that he was unable to attend due to health reasons. Earlier, Vardanyan himself had requested Agakerimov’s participation, and the court had issued him a summons.

Defense attorney Avraam Berman requested access to the court session protocols and the provision of additional copies of decisions on defense motions. Judge Agayev replied that the defense would be granted access to the protocols and asked that they specify which rulings they sought copies of.

The hearing then continued with testimonies from victims and their legal successors.

Camal Heydarov, legal successor of victim Shair Heydarov, testified that his son was killed in Lachin as a result of enemy fire.

Sevinc Jalilova, mother of victim Devid Jalilov, stated that her son was killed in Aghdara due to fire from remnants of the Armenian army and illegal Armenian armed groups.

Javanshir Zulfuqarov testified that his son was killed by enemy fire.

Farid Aliyev, son of victim Tofiq Aliyev, said his father was killed by sniper fire in Khankendi from remnants of the Armenian army and illegal Armenian units.

Answering questions from Prosecutor Nasir Bayramov, Shirzad Samedov, brother of victim Siraj Abishov, stated that his brother was killed when an anti-tank mine exploded in the village of Susuzlug, Kalbajar. ‘My brother was an AzTV cameraman. Alongside him, AZERTAC correspondent Maharram Ibrahimov and Arif Aliyev, deputy head of the Susuzlug village administrative unit, were also killed. Four others were injured,’ he said.

Victim Elkin Mirzayev testified that he sustained shrapnel wounds in Khojaly from enemy fire.

Victim Rauf Huseynov said he was wounded when an enemy mortar shell exploded, killing several people nearby.

Victim Orkhan Baladov stated that he and several others were injured when their car was struck by a rocket in the village of Janyatag, Aghdara district.

Victim Eltun Mammadov said he was injured by enemy fire in Dashalti, Shusha.

Victim Mukhtar Aliyev testified that he was shot in the leg in Gulabli village, Aghdam, by enemy fire, in which another person was killed.

Victim Nazir Jalilov reported that he was wounded when his car came under enemy fire in Shusha district.

Victim Parvin Babayev said he was injured by artillery fire in Shusha.

Victims Emil Aliyev, Farhad Rzayev, and Ayyub Mammadov testified that they were wounded by enemy fire in the Kalbajar direction.

Answering Prosecutor Vusal Abdullayev’s questions, Vidadi Mammadov said he was wounded during mine clearance work in Lachin when the enemy opened fire.

Victim Raqif Aliyev stated that his car was hit by a rocket in Janyatag, Aghdara district, injuring him and several others and killing some people.

Victim Asgar Guliyev testified that he sustained injuries to his leg from enemy fire near Shusha, where several others were killed or wounded.

Other victims – Anar Aziz-zade, Aydin Verdiyev, Yunis Ismayilov, Valeh Mammadov, Ali Maharramov, Jeyhun Hasan-zade, Nicat Teymurov, Eltekin Hasanov, Yahya Guliyev, Arif Abbasov, Vusal Huseynov, Ali Alakbarov, Zaur Mammadov, Vasif Osmanov, Mehti Mursalov, and Alizamin Ismayilov – testified that they were wounded across different Azerbaijani regions due to provocations, gunfire, and mines planted by remnants of the Armenian army and illegal armed groups.

Medical forensic reports on the victims were also announced during the session.

The next hearing was scheduled for October 7.

Ruben Vardanyan faces charges under numerous articles of the Azerbaijani Criminal Code, including: planning and waging aggressive war (Articles 100.1, 100.2), deportation and forced displacement (107), persecution (109), enforced disappearance (110), unlawful imprisonment (112), torture (113), mercenarism (114.1), violations of the laws and customs of war (115.2, 116 series), premeditated murder and attempted murder (120.2, 29.120.2), illegal entrepreneurship (192.3.1), terrorism (214.2, 214-1), creating a criminal organization (218.1, 218.2), illegal possession of weapons and explosives (228.3), acts endangering aviation safety (270-1), violent seizure of power (278.1), forming unlawful armed groups (279), and illegal border crossing (318.2).

ExpertsUrge Shifting toRenewables, WarnagainstCostly Energy Expansion

Energy experts and environmental advocates have cautioned that Bangladesh’s growing reliance on imported fossil fuels and unchecked expansion of coal and LNGbased projects are threatening both economic stability and the ecosystem.

Speaking at an interactive session titled “Energy Expansion: Impact on Bangladesh’s Economy, Ecosystem and Fair Transition” held at Premier University in Chattogram recently, they also called for a swift transition to renewable sources.

The event was jointly organized by Dhara (Protect the Earth), Premier University, 350.org, and Waterkeepers Bangladesh, with the participation of youth climate activists, students, researchers, and civil society representatives.

Shafiqul Alam, lead analyst at the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis (IEEFA), said Bangladesh’s energy mix remains highly vulnerable. “Around40%ofourtotal energy supply and over half of our electricity generation depend on imports. Yet, only 2% comes from renewable sources,” he said.

He added that Bangladesh’s global ranking in energy security, equity, and sustainability has slipped to 83rd, down from 77th two years ago.

Govt to Purchase LNG

The Cabinet Committee on Government Purchase (CCGP) recently approved a series of import proposals, including the purchase of one cargo of liquefied natural gas (LNG) from the spot market and fertilizer imports for a total of Tk 2,000 crore. LNG will be purchased from TotalEnergies Gas and Power Ltd, United Kingdom, according to a proposal by the Energy and Mineral Resources Division placed at the meeting.

The cargo is priced at Tk 485 crore at a unit rate of $11.54 per MMBtu.

Citizens Must Adopt Lifestyle Changes, Reduce Overconsumption: Rizwana

Environment Adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan recently stressed the need for public awareness for sustainable development saying that citizens must adopt lifestyle changes and reduce overconsumption. ‘We must learn from our past mistakes and chart the course for our future,’ she said while addressing the ‘Bangladesh Sustainability Conclave 2025’ at the Dhaka North City C o r p o r a t i o n Auditorium in the capital.

She also emphasized the need for increased investment in food security, safe food, clean air, and safe water.

She said that it is urgent to formulate and implement time-befitting policies in these areas. ‘Bangladesh must transform into a beautiful, fertile, safe, and green country.

For that, we must move towards sustainability,’ said the adviser.

Govt to Fund Installation of Rooftop Solar at All State-Owned Buildings

The government will provide funds from the public exchequer for setting up solar panels on the rooftops of all state-owned buildings, aiming to generate 2,000 -3,000 MW of electricity.

However, the state-owned entities, which generate their own income, will have to fund the installation of solar systems on their building rooftops using their own earnings, according to the National Rooftop Solar Implementation Guidelines.

According to the Renewable Energy Policy 2025, the government has set a target of meeting 20 per cent of the total electricity demand from renewable sources by 2030 and 30 per cent by 2040. Presently, only 5.6 per cent (1,563 MW) of the country’s total electricity is generated from renewable sources.

On the other hand, about 56 per cent of the country’s electricity is generated by using natural gas, the reserves of which are rapidly decreasing.

In this situation, the Power Division has formulated a “National Rooftop Solar Program” to ensure energy security and prioritize renewable energy, according to the guidelines.

The program received approval from the Advisory Council in June, targeting the generation of 2,000 MW to 3,000 MW of electricity across the country by utilizing the rooftops of governmentowned offices, hospitals, and educational institutions.

Under the initiative, all the government entities would install solar panels on the roofs of their respective buildings with funds to be provided by the government, officials said.

Low-Carbon Ammonia and Methanol Hold Potential in Energy Transition: GlobalData

Ammonia and methanol are being promoted as low-carbon fuels and hydrogen carriers to support the global energy transition.

They are currently being evaluated as alternatives for clean shipping, power generation, and longdistance hydrogen transport.

However, despite strong interest, their large-scale adoption remains slow due to uncertainty in the demand outlook in a pricesensitive market, says GlobalData, a leading data and analytics company.

GlobalData’s Strategic Intelligence report, ‘Ammonia and Methanol in Energy Transition,’ reveals that countries such as Japan, South Korea, China, and members of the European Union are backing low-carbon projects, while companies including Yara, Maersk, CF, and Mitsubishi are exploring large-scale investments to boost their production. Low-carbon ammonia capacity is estimated to grow to nearly 250 million tonnes per annum (mtpa) by 2030, with more than 460 upcoming plants globally. Low-carbon methanol is projected to follow a similar path, with plant numbers approaching 150 by 2030. Yet many projects are in early stages of development, with some hydrogen-linked initiatives already seeing delays or cancellations.

Persistent Gas Crisis Impeding Exports

The country’s falling gas production continues to plague the industries, seriously threatening exports and e m p l o y m e n t generation.

The interim government has hiked LNG imports to address the crisis, but the move is far from being enough.

The industry leaders are calling on the government to take urgent steps to mitigate the crisis, or else.

Even four years ago, the country’s daily gas production ranged between 2,300 and 2,400 million cubic feet. Now, it has fallen to only 1,700 million cubic feet per day on average, impacting vehicle refueling services, power stations, residents and industries.

According to Petrobangla, the daily demand is over 4,200 million cubic feet, but only 2,830 million cubic feet was produced recently.

The crisis is leaving industries with underutilized goods production capacity, which is increasing production cost and trimming export potentials.

Investors are also discouraged by the crisis, leading to reduced business growth and falling employment prospects.

Recently, BGMEA President Mahmud Hasan Khan met Mohammad Saiful Islam, secretary at the Energy and Mineral Resources Division, at the Secretariat.

There he placed five recommendations to alleviate the gas crisis.

Record PowerGeneration at Maitree Super Thermal Power, Rampal

Maitree Super Thermal Power Plant (2×660 MW) at Rampal, Bagerhat, a thermal Power plant of BIFPCL, set a new benchmark by generating 771.70 million units of electricity at a PLF of 78.58% in August 2025.

This is the highest monthly output since its commissioning, contributing 7.62% of Bangladesh’s total generation of 10,100 million units.

For the last three consecutive months, the plant has been consistently generating over 600 million units, totaling 2,036.4 million units. Despite reliance on imported fuel, its scale, efficiency, and consistent performance enable Bangladesh to access stable and comparatively affordable electricity, supporting industries, boosting investor confidence, and reducing the risk of supply disruptions.

Govt in Talks with Aramco to Sign MoU

The interim government is currently in talks with Saudi oil giant Aramco to ink a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to ensure cooperation in the energy sector.

State-run Petrobangla has already prepared a draft of the MoU, which is currently being vetted by the Ministry of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs. “We are eyeing to ink the MoU with Aramco to ensure cooperation in the energy sector, especially for importing liquefied natural gas (LNG), refined petroleum products, etc,” said a senior Petrobangla official.