Azerbaijan, Baku, 19 June / Trend / Considering the extent of the reforms which have been implemented since the beginning of the year, Azerbaijan can join top-twenty reformer-countries, even it can not join top-ten continues in the current ranking of Doing Business 2009 report ofthe World Bank and International Finance Corporation (IFC).
As known, since 1 January 2008 the simplified method of business dealing for entrepreneurs through the principle of "single window" has been operating in Azerbaijan. Procedure of establishing new business in Azerbaijan has been much more simplified, introducing a single agency for business registration, of which duties have been assigned to the Ministry of Taxes of Azerbaijan.
Introduction of a new system has allowed to reduce number of procedures for registration of entrepreneurs by three times, the period of registration - by 20 times. Up to now, to begin a new business it was required to pass 15 procedures of gathering documents in the Ministry of Taxes, Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Labor and Social Protection, State Statistics Committee, Social Protection Fund, to submit 33 documents, and the period of registration made up 72 days. After the beginning of registration through single agency three days are enough for full preparation of all documents which totally makes up five. Due to introduction of the system, changes and additions were made to 12 documents, amendments to 10 acts
According to the Ministry of Taxes, the number of businessmen receiving state registration in January 2008 after introduction of system 'single window' in Azerbaijan made up 1886. Whereas over three months of 2007, 1270 new legal persons were registered only. It means that businessmen were not interested in establishing legal entity due to bureaucratic delays. Convenience from introduction of the principle of "single window" during registration of business promoted that facilitating procedures of activity were solved in various other structures of the country as well.
Especially currently works are being carried out to introduce principle of "single window" with regards to permission for construction, registration of real estate, protection of rights of investors, liberalization of labor legislation and tax administration. Further, there are plans to take measures in the field of closing business (bankruptcy), simplification of procedures of trans-border trade. Considering these reforms, Azerbaijan will significantly improve its ranking in the current Doing Business. In review Doing Business for 2008 Azerbaijan occupies 96th place against 99th place last year.
Ellada Khankishiyeva, Director of Trend Analytic Center
