Azerbaijan, Baku, Sept. 12 / Trend A.Hasanov /
During the first half of 2012, as part of Azerbaijan's foreign economic relations, one of the leading areas was in reciprocal services, the total volume of which amounted to $5.3 billion, the Central Bank of Azerbaijan (CBA) said on Wednesday.
Services to the sum of $3.5 billion were provided by non-residents to residents of Azerbaijan. Azerbaijani residents in turn rendered services worth $1.8 billion to those from foreign countries. This means the balance of services was negative and amounted to $1.7 billion, while in the first half of 2011, the deficit stood at $1.19 billion.
In the balance of reciprocal services 16.2 per cent accounted for transport services. Transportation services at $857.8 million were provided. Of these, 62.4 per cent fell on the use by Azerbaijani residents of transport systems in foreign countries. The cost of transport services provided by Azerbaijani residents to non-residents amounted to $322.7 million.
During the past year the cost of tourist services provided to foreigners visiting Azerbaijan, amounted to $1 billion. Some 40 per cent of these services are provided to non-residents visiting Azerbaijan on business trips.
In turn, the tourism services provided to Azerbaijani residents by foreign countries compared to 2011, increased by 1.7 times and amounted to $1.2 billion. Of these, 63.2 per cent of funds spent fall on personal services.
As a result, during January - June 2012 the share of reciprocal services in the total volume of export-import operations in Azerbaijan and foreign countries amounted to 19.3 per cent.