BAKU, Azerbaijan, Sept. 18
By Fidan Babayeva - Trend:
The State Customs Committee of Azerbaijan and the World Bank are planning to implement joint projects in the field of customs clearance and an authorized economic operator, which will affect the development of trade in general, Trend reports citing the State Customs Committee (SCC).
Deputy Chairman of the SCC, Major General of the Customs Service, Javad Gasimov, made the remark at an online meeting on "Preparation of diagnostics of the private sector in Azerbaijan".
The meeting was also attended by experts in air transportation, logistics, customs issues of the International Finance Corporation (IFC), a member of the World Bank Group, as well as representatives of the relevant structural divisions of the SCC.
Gasimov said that close cooperation has been established between the State Customs Committee, the World Bank, and the International Finance Corporation.
He also informed about the work of the customs service to prevent the spread of the coronavirus pandemic.
“On a priority basis, the passage of goods intended for the treatment of coronavirus-infected patients is ensured. At customs border checkpoints, no restrictions are imposed on international cargo transportation, including import and transit operations carried out on the territory of the country,” the deputy chairman emphasized.
Speaking about the SCC’s projects, Gasimov informed about the use of information technologies, the development of logistics, the ‘green corridor’ system, electronic services, and other innovations.
Currently, the process of customs control and clearance is fully automated, and services of particular importance, such as filing customs declarations, making customs payments, tracking requests to customs authorities, are provided on the basis of completely paperless technologies, he noted.
During the meeting, information was provided on the implementation of a new computerized transit system (NCTS) and the activities of the Trade Facilitation Center.
Experts from the World Bank and the International Finance Corporation expressed their gratitude to the State Customs Committee for creating conditions for an effective meeting and expressed their hope for serious success in logistics and the use of modern methods.
Since January 2020, an analysis of specific actions has been carried out in order to assess the existing restrictions and opportunities for economic growth, especially in the private sector, as well as accelerate the inflow of investments in this area.
The event was organized to discuss the reforms carried out by customs authorities on simplifying trade and border administration, combating the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, and minimizing its impact on the private sector, as well as on developing business.
---
Follow the author on Twitter: Fidan_Babaeva