The need to ensure women are given the tools to fulfil their potential is not just the key to a healthy society, Kozinchenko argues, but to economic success. While most Western countries, however imperfectly, offer women some chance to balance career and family life, it is an area in which emerging economies fall far behind.

The reality is none of the three countries are formal candidates for EU membership in the near future.

ADB will also provide $250,000 in technical assistance to support ongoing public financial management reforms in Azerbaijan.

The government forecasts about 4 percent growth in 2021 – after registering negative growth of 4 percent in 2020.