The Economic Development Ministry of Azerbaijan has prepared the pack of proposals for the next review of the World Bank regarding the economy of the world (Doing Business 2007), which is prepared through the request of the world entrepreneurs.
Presently agreement is being made with all of the state bodies involved in this process to make a conclusion, the Head of the Entrepreneurship Development Department of the Economic Development Ministry, Samir Nuriyev, informed Trend.
The proposals are based on the improvement of 7 out of 10 indicators described in the WB review. Thereafter, we will closely work with the World Bank and International Finance Corporation to devise the following reports in a true manner. Presently, large-scale work is being carried out in this direction. The prepared proposals may affect the assessment of the country in 2007. The reviews are revised by independent experts, and we want to co-operate with them because they also can make mistakes, Nuriyev said. The fact is that control books are applied in Azerbaijan, where the entrepreneurs are involved in each inspection, but the international experts described the inspections as certain steps that drove Azerbaijan to several steps back, while it is a contribution to the entrepreneurs, Nuriyev said.
The Azerbaijani Government considers that there are a number of inaccuracies in the report, and therefore, the Government is ready to take measures to liquidate all claims.
The WB report has been prepared over 175 countries around the world. Azerbaijan rose from 100th to 99th place in the list. The biggest (8 items) growth was achieved through component of opening business (96th place). Growth was noted for components of recruitment of employees (66th place), registration of real estate (59), tax payment (136). The situation became worse with the support of investors (-4 items up to 118 place), licensing (162), credit attraction (21), implementation of contracts (34), closing of business (70) and the component of the trans-border trade remained unchanged (158).
The report states that the registration of business in Azerbaijan takes 53 days and requires payment at the level of 9,5% of revenues per capita ($1,240). To receive license takes 28 days and requires payment at the level of 977,36% revenues per capita. The registration of the real estate takes 61 days and requires payment at the level of 0,3 % revenues per capita. 1,000 hours are spent to pay the taxes. Closing business takes 2,67 years and requires payment at the level of 8% of its cost.