April 7
CAREC countries' customs services prepare joint plan for regional cooperation
The customs services of the Central Asia Regional Economic Cooperation (CAREC) member-states will discuss a joint plan for regional cooperation in Baku, technical officer of the World Customs Organization (WCO) Samson Bilangna said at the opening of the first workshop on technical support of the Customs Cooperation Committee as part of CAREC program.
The customs specialists will also discuss issues of coordination and harmonization of customs procedures, the work as part of the revised Kyoto Convention, the risk management system. Bilangna also stressed that the workshop will allow understanding the WCO various procedures better, as some countries have not yet fully used all the tools of the organization.
The workshop is supported by the Azerbaijani State Customs Committee, the customs support foundation under the Japanese government and the Asian Development Bank (ADB).
Azerbaijani president familiarizes with conditions created at Nakhchivan Business Center
President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev visited the Nakhchivan Business Center.
The Azerbaijani president was informed that the center works to enlighten entrepreneurs, and keep businessmen updated about economic reforms carried out in Azerbaijan, as well as in Nakhchivan, international economic relations, and developments and changes in the world financial system.
President Aliyev then viewed Nazlifan cars produced in the Nakhchivan Automobile Plant.
Pilot launch of real-time Georgian-Azerbaijani customs data system successful
Pilot launch of a single real-time customs data system between Azerbaijan and Georgia has been successfully implemented.
The head of the Centre for Information Technology Services revenue Vakhtang Lashkaradze said that despite minor problems, a trial launch of this project showed its effectiveness and prospect.
"We specifically selected the busiest and biggest checkpoint on the border with Azerbaijan, to be able to assess how the system will work in real conditions and with real loading. Processing of single information about the cargoes crossing the border, and in the long term - a common customs points will be implemented in the future across the customs border between our countries," he said.
Test project of data exchange system on imports and exports between the customs authorities of the two countries was launched in late February at the Tsiteli Headey (Red Bridge) customs checkpoint (from the Azerbaijani side - Sinig Korpu check point). At the same time, a pilot project on the creation of a single customs post was launched as well.
Arpachay-1 and Arpachay-2 hydro-electric power stations commissioned in Nakhchivan
President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev took part in the opening of Arpachay-1 and Arpachay-2 hydro-electric power stations in the Autonomous Republic of Nakhchivan.
President Aliyev viewed Arpachay-2 hydro-electric power station. Azerbaijani president was informed that 1.4MW hydro-electric power station had a water reservoir with a capacity of 3 mln cubic meters of water.
President Aliyev then attended the commissioning of Arpachay-1 hydro-electric power station. President Aliyev was informed about the capacity of the facility. The 20.5MW hydro-electric power station has a water reservoir containing 150 mln cubic meters of water.
The Azerbaijani leader was informed that the facility will meet main part of energy demand of the Autonomous Republic.
City Water Reservoir and Water Purification Facilities Complex commissioned in Nakhchivan
President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev attended a ceremony to inaugurate Nakhchivan City Water Reservoir and Water Purification Facilities Complex.
Chairman of the Supreme Majlis of the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic Vasif Talibov informed the president about the complex.
The president launched the water purification facility.
After viewing the complex, President Aliyev inspected work to reconstruct the drinking water supply and sewerage system.
April 9
Azerbaijani Postal Office connected to new system of money transfer system
Azerbaijani postal operator Azerpoct LLC connected to Monex express money transfer system.
At present, Monex express money transfer service is available at branches of the postal operator, located in Baku, Sumgait and Absheron peninsula. The service will be available in all post offices in Azerbaijan in the near future.
Monex system of express money transfer was established on November, 2011.
The system allows remittances to be made by individuals both inside and outside of the country. Transfers can be made in manats dollars, euros or rubles.
The fee is 0.2 percent of the total amount of money in Azerbaijan and 1.5 percent - outside the country.
IMF forecasts Azerbaijan's inflation to stand at 3.5 percent in 2014
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) forecasts Azerbaijan's inflation to be at the level of 3.5 percent in 2014 and 4 percent in 2015, according to a report on the prospects for development of world economy, World Economic Outlook published on IMF's website.
By comparison, consumer prices in Azerbaijan increased by 2.4 percent in 2013.
The current account surplus of the balance of payments' transactions will decrease from 14.49 billion manat in 2013 (GDP ratio - 19.7 percent) and will amount to $11.914 (15 percent) in the country, according to IMF forecasts.
Azerbaijani president meets with Iranian Minister of Communications and Information Technologies
Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev met with Iranian Minister of Communications and Information Technologies, co-chairman of Azerbaijan-Iran intergovernmental commission, Mahmoud Vaezi in Tehran.
During the meeting, the significance of Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev's official visit to Iran in terms of expanding bilateral relations between the two countries was emphasized.
It was stressed during the meeting that the discussions held between Azerbaijani and Iranian presidents will contribute to the intergovernmental commission's activity and will play an important role in further expansion of the relations.
April 13
Azerbaijani president chairs Cabinet of Ministers meeting on socio-economic development
President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev chaired the meeting of the Cabinet of Ministers dedicated to the results of socio-economic development in the first quarter of 2014 and future tasks.
Azerbaijani president addressed the meeting.
Minister of Taxes Fazil Mammadov, Energy Minister Natig Aliyev and Education Minister Mikayil Jabbarov made speeches.
President Aliyev made a closing speech at the meeting.