Deputy Minister of Economic Development: Simplification of export-import procedures in Azerbaijan testifies to care for business

Last week, Azerbaijan made significant changes in the procedure for regulating foreign trade. Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev signed a decree May 14 "Additional measures to improve the rules of export-import operations".

According to the decree, the decision to regulate foreign trade is approved by the Cabinet of Ministers, but export-import of goods, intellectual property and services require an authorized conclusion of executive power. It also clarified that the requirement for advance payment, opening of credit or bank guarantee in export and import is preserved only for state-owned enterprises and enterprises with state shares at least 50%. In this case the Ministry of Economic Development registers foreign trade contracts of such organizations.

Deputy Minister of Economic Development Niyazi Safarov spoke in an interview with Trend to clarify the innovations for the individuals of foreign trade activity.


What are the objectives of the document adopted recently?

As a result of successful economic policy under the leadership of the President, including the execution of state programs aimed at diversifying the economy, the development of non-oil areas, supporting entrepreneurship, improving of business and investment climate, a steady development has been recently observed in all areas of economy and export opportunities of the country have been expanding rapidly.

During a conference on the results of the first year of the "State program of socio-economic development of regions in 2009-2013" March 12, 2010 the Azerbaijani President instructed to prepare appropriate proposals to improve the situation for local entrepreneurs to enter external markets, study their export opportunities to other countries, as well as create favorable conditions for local entrepreneurs abroad.

As we know, the rules regulating import and export operations was approved in 1997. Some provisions did not conform to today's level of economic development.

The" Regulations on export-import operations in Azerbaijan "were amended and supplemented by the Presidential Decree dated May 14, 2010 "Additional measures to improve the rules regulating import and export operations in the Republic of Azerbaijan". They were approved by the Presidential Decree 609 "Further liberalization of foreign trade in the Azerbaijan Republic" dated June 24, 1997. It ensured the removal of this problem.

What is the essence of changes and additions to the rules? And in general, what is the significance of the document?

The main goal of these changes and additions are the following:

- reducing the number of documents and procedures required for import and export operations;

- more simplification of calculations in export;

-creating more favorable situation for exporters

Changes were made in two directions. The first direction envisages the reduction of number of certain documents and procedures required for registration of foreign trade operations.

At the same time, the requirement "Rules for regulating import and export operations in Azerbaijan" on the registration and examination of contracts during the import and export of some specific products, services and intellectual property with obtaining feedback related state agencies was eliminated.

The second direction envisages the simplification of the rules of calculation for export. Thus, except state-owned enterprises and enterprises with state shares with at least 50 percent, during export of goods by all other persons, they will not be required prepayment or opening irrevocable letter of credit or providing bank guarantees of first class.

Azerbaijani President's decree, as another example of the care and attention to the development of entrepreneurship in the country, is also an important document in the development of non-oil sector, prolonged improvement of the business climate, in encouragement exports, in the expansion of import-export operations, simplifying import and export procedures.


/Trend/