Azerbaijan, Baku, Jan.28 / Trend, I.Khalilova /
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) is ready to provide technical assistance to the Azerbaijani State Statistical Committee to improve the quarterly GDP estimates, IMF Baku Office head Aghgun Gadirli told Trend on Monday.
The IMF mission is expected to visit Baku on Feb.4-15, 2013. It will be led by David Hughes, an expert at the IMF's Statistics Department.
"The main purpose of the mission will be to assist with the development of quarterly GDP estimates in current and constant prices," Gadirli said.
He said the mission's tasks include assisting with developing quarterly GDP estimates, assessing available data sources to construct these estimates and assisting in the development of a work plan to guide staff on the way forward.
Azerbaijan joined the IMF on September 18, 1992. Cooperation between the organisation and the country was particularly intense in 1995-2005. During these years, Azerbaijan has often used the advice and financial assistance of the IMF to support the government's economic programmes.
The IMF office was opened in Baku in 1992. Despite its staff being reduced since 1999, it remains an important partner of the Azerbaijani government. It should be stressed that cooperation with the IMF played an important role in the global economic and financial crisis.