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Azerbaijan Initiated Introduction of ‘Single Window’ Business Registration System at Border

Business Materials 20 January 2008 12:03 (UTC +04:00)

Azerbaijan, Baku, 20 January / Trend corr I. Khalilova / The Azerbaijani Government applied to the World Trade Organization (WTO) and the UN Special Program on Economies of Central Asia (SPECA) for assistance in establishing the 'single window' business registration system at the borders for simplification of trade, the Government said on 19 January. Azerbaijan was the first among the SPECA countries (Asia, Afghanistan and Azerbaijan) to initiate implementation of the project.

In this connection the WTO expert Nora Noyseld, the head of the project group on simplification of trade, and the UNECO expert Mario Apostolof, the head of the working group on development of the trade simplification project, held a workshop in Baku on 18 January.

"This event is a preparation for the SPECA's spring regional conference on establishment of the 'single window' system at the borders," a source at the Government said. The conference is expected to take place in Baku in April.

UNESCAP (the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific) and UNECO (the UN Economic Cooperation Organization) will render assistance in implementation of the project on simplification of business registration at the Azerbaijani borders.

When passing the border the goods are checked not only by the State Customs Committee and the State Border Service, but also by the State Phytosanitary Control, the State Veterinary Service, the Sanitary Service of the Transport Ministry, the Health Ministry and the Interior Ministry.

The main purpose of the project is to commission one state body with coordination of goods control, which if necessary will involve other bodies. In Turkey the system is coordinated by the Customs Service, but its system is imperfect and now it is being updated. In Europe only several countries apply the 'single window' system at the borders. The Balkan countries have commenced implementation of the project.

The arrangements on trade simplification will be the continuation of the new business registration system which was introduced in Azerbaijan on 1 January 2008 and is coordinated by the Taxes Ministry.

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