Socio-economic development of regions high on agenda
Aconference dedicated to the results of implementation of “The State Program on socio-economic development of the regions of the Republic of Azerbaijan in 2014-2018” was held on January 29.
President Ilham Aliyev attended the conference and made a speech at the event.
Addressing the conference, Minister of Economy Shahin Mustafayev said as part of the State Program on socio-economic development of the regions of the Republic of Azerbaijan in 2014-2018, the non-oil sector grew by 8 percent.
According to the results of the work done in 2014-2018, the non-oil industry grew by 32 percent, he added.
Mustafayev also noted that 24.2 billion manats was allocated for development of the Azerbaijani regions in 2014-2018.
“Moreover, the allocation of additional 2.8 billion manats played a decisive role in accelerating the social and economic development,” he said.
“The recent large-scale reforms in various sectors in Azerbaijan have yielded positive results,” he added. “For example, agricultural subsidies, tax exemptions, granting equipment and fertilizers on preferential terms, rendering leasing services, improving licensing, suspending inspections and other mechanisms play an important role in the development of entrepreneurship.”
In turn, Safar Mehdiyev, the chairman of the State Customs Committee, said that an innovative project is being prepared in Azerbaijan to open new customs checkpoints on the border with neighboring countries.
The head of the customs committee noted that the main objective of the project is to support the development of entrepreneurship in matters related to the export of goods.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Economy and the State Customs Committee of Azerbaijan signed a memorandum on trade facilitation as part of the conference. The document was signed by Minister of Economy Shahin Mustafayev and Chairman of the State Customs Committee Safar Mehdiyev.
In 2018, about 1,500 field tax audits were conducted in Azerbaijan, said Deputy Minister of Taxes Sahib Alakbarov, adding that this is three times less than in 2017.
He noted that tax breaks in the production of bird feed can be introduced in Azerbaijan.
The deputy minister noted that three departments - the ministries of economy, agriculture and taxes are already preparing relevant proposals.
Speaking at the conference, Minister of Agriculture Inam Karimov said that Azerbaijan is preparing a state program for the development of fisheries.
He noted that the new document will reflect the main laws and regulations aimed at supporting this segment of the agricultural sector.
He also informed that new regulations are being prepared in connection with agricultural land.
Karimov noted that the rules should be transparent, flexible and comply with the wishes of farmers involved in this field.
He added that not only the Ministry of Agriculture has authority in this area.
“The position of several ministries is required on this issue, and in general, there is a need to further improve the procedure in accordance with modern requirements. Therefore, we have prepared proposals together with several ministries. Procedures will be improved in the field of agricultural land change in accordance with their category and their use in other categories,” he said.
Addressing the conference, Minister of Labor and Social Protection of the Population Sahil Babayev said that work is underway in Azerbaijan to create a personnel bank for small and medium businesses.
At the moment joint discussions are held with the Ministry of Economy and the Agency for the Development of Small and Medium Businesses.
Babayev added that automating employment services will create new opportunities for all entrepreneurs.
“For all the unemployed and job seekers, direct access to the base will be created. That is, the entrepreneur will have the opportunity of free access to the labor force he is looking for. In this area, entrepreneurs are interested in human resources,” he said.
He noted that on the instruction by President Ilham Aliyev, the self-employment program in the country will cover 8,000 people this year.
Babayev noted that the selfemployment program will give impetus to the development of micro and small businesses. The minister added that low-income families, martyr families, young people and others will be involved in the program.
“Last year, the self-employment program coverage expanded by six times,” he said. “There were 7,800 appeals, 7,267 people successfully completed courses and trainings, defended their business plans and 5,500 people were provided with assets.”
He noted that 1,200 women took part in the program, and this indicates the development of women’s entrepreneurship in Azerbaijan.
The program contributes to increasing labor productivity and economic activity of the population, increasing family income, creating additional jobs, as well as increasing the number of taxpayers and social insurance payments.
During the conference, the high cost of certificates for agricultural products in Azerbaijan was also mentioned.
The high cost of certificates for agricultural products in Azerbaijan is associated with the cost of components used for the examination, Goshgar Tahmazli, chairman of the Food Safety Agency of Azerbaijan, said.
He noted that today the cost of examination of one pesticide and toxicological analysis is 170 manat. Earlier, before the creation of the agency, the examination of agrochemical preparations cost ten manat.
The current state duty (120 manat) is set not for profit, but to cover part of the cost of the examination, he added.
Thus, the cost of the examination to obtain a certificate in Azerbaijan is lower than the figure fixed in neighboring countries, Tahmazli added.
Other speakers included chairman of Khazar car plant in Neftchala Industrial District Emin Akhundov, head of Shaki City Executive Authority Elkhan Usubov, head of Nakhchivan Baghlari Ltd Elchin Baghirov, head of Aghjabadi District Executive Authority Shahin Mammadov, director of Saloglu Tajaddin Mustafayev, head of Masalli District Executive Authority Rafil Huseynov, director of Mughan Agroservice Ltd Rajab Orujov, head of Gusar District Executive Authority Shair Alkhasov, and director of Hajigabul Gushchulug Ltd Nemat Babashov.