Number of business inspections drops sharply

By Azernews

By Nigar Abbasova

The state agencies slashed the number of business inspections in 2016, rather focusing on creating opportunities to boost the small and medium entrepreneurship in Azerbaijan.

Deputy Economy Minister Sahil Babayev said that some 60 inspections on entrepreneurship activity were carried out in 2016, while the number of analogical inspections was about 60,000 in 2015.

He made the remarks during a joint meeting of the Club of Exporters of the Azerbaijan Export and Investment Promotion Foundation (AZPROMO) and American Chamber of Commerce in Azerbaijan (AmCham) in Baku on February 14.

The inspection of entrepreneurs' activities in Azerbaijan has been suspended for the period of two years from November 1, 2015. The exceptions from the law include check-ups which are held by State Commission to Combat Corruption under Prosecutor General’s Office, as well as cases which endanger health or life, pose hazards to the state security or economic interests.

The government does not exclude the prolongation of a moratorium imposed on business inspection.

Babayev went on to say that over the past two years, the government has been continuously taking steps to improve the business environment.

Among the steps taken in this regard, the official mentioned the reduction in the number of licenses for conducting business activity, introduction of the investment promotion mechanism, as well as reforms carried out in the customs sphere.

 “As of today, entrepreneurs obtained relevant certificates for implementation of projects worth more than 1 billion manats ($ 547,000),” he said, adding that these projects will allow to open more than 7,000 new jobs.

Speaking about the export expansion, Babayev emphasized that the main goal is not only to achieve expansion of the non-oil export, but also expansion of the export geography.

To increase awareness about local production, the country is sending trade missions to various countries. Besides, the country appoints trade representatives to the country’s diplomatic missions abroad with a view to expand Azerbaijan`s economic and trade relations with foreign countries, protect economic interests of Azerbaijan, increase export of Azerbaijani goods and services.

Babayev further mentioned that Azerbaijan is currently in talks with Turkey on giving customs privileges to the exporters of goods, produced in Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic.   

"Turkey imposes high tariffs on imported production, namely on the import of agricultural production, to secure its domestic market. We are currently in talks to expand export of our production to Turkey and in this regard we want to get customs privileges for supplies of goods produced in Nakhchivan," he said.  

Turkey became the main trade partner of Azerbaijan in 2016, while trade turnover between the countries amounted to $2.3 billion.