Azerbaijan, Baku / Trend corr I. Khalilova / The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has completed the selection of candidates for the position of the head of IMF representative office in Azerbaijan. The new manager, Koba Gvinitadze, will make his first visit to Baku in September, according to IMF's Baku office and will begin his job by the middle of October.
The Azerbaijani Government was informed of the new manager in Azerbaijan and is expected to approve the selected person. According to the Government, Gvinitadze has visited Azerbaijan several times within the IMF missions.
The term of office of the previous head of the representative office, Basel Zavoyko, concluded in June. He occupied the position for 4 years, though managers are usually appointed for 2 years with a possibility of extending the office term for an additional year. However, as an exception, Zavoyko remained in office for 4 years. That is not the first precedent for Azerbaijan, as the manager prior to Zavoyko also was in office for 4 years.
Currently IMF has changed its policy and is employing the heads of representative offices for a term of 3 years with a possibility of extending the office term for another year.
IMF's permanent representative office has been functioning in Azerbaijan for 14 years (since 1993), but cooperation with the Government began in 1992. The organization began crediting Azerbaijan in 1995.
Until now IMF has allotted credits to Azerbaijan within six programs. But beginning in 2005, co-operation with IMF has been held at the level of consultations, as the Azerbaijani Government has refused credits of the Fund.