Baku, Azerbaijan, Feb. 9
By Azad Hasanli - Trend:
The World Bank is ready to support Azerbaijan in the development of a new economic model during the fall in world oil prices, the head of the WB Baku office Larisa Leshchenko said during the IV Tax Forum in Baku Feb.9 on the theme "Azerbaijani tax system: Realities and Prospects."
WB forecasts that the average oil price in 2015 will remain at $53 per barrel, and in 2016 - $57.
"In these circumstances, the country needs to develop new programs and a new economic model," said Leshchenko. "And in this regard the World Bank is ready to support Azerbaijan."
The head of the representative office also drew attention to the need to improve the level of cashless payments in Azerbaijan.
She said that currently in Azerbaijan, only 65 percent of companies have bank accounts, which is a problem in this regard.
For comparison, in other countries the figure is 85-88 percent.
She said that Azerbaijan should take measures to encourage non-cash payments, Leshchenko regretted that the use of payment cards in the country is not widespread.
Azerbaijan has been a member of the World Bank since 1992. The loan agreements signed between Azerbaijan and the World Bank amount to $4.086 billion.
Edited by CN
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