Improving export-import operations’ control system in center of attention

Azerbaijan’s State Customs Committee hosted a joint meeting of the boards of the State Customs Committee and the Ministry of Taxes to discuss the implementation of the “Action Plan to improve the control system of export-import operations” approved by the decree of Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev dated July 28.

The State Customs Committee reported that the meeting was attended by chairman of Azerbaijan’s State Customs Committee, Lieutenant-General of the Customs Service Safar Mehdiyev, Minister of Taxes Mikayil Jabbarov, as well as the heads of relevant structures.

Addressing the event, Mehdiyev touched upon the importance of the flawless implementation of the presidential instructions to both structures in a short period of time.

Mehdiyev went on to say that the State Customs Committee and the Ministry of Taxes established links of effective cooperation and all entrepreneurs and business entities will feel the benefit of this cooperation in their daily activities.

In turn, Jabbarov noted that the meeting will serve expanding cooperation between the two structures and the joint activity will be continued in the future to successfully fulfill the instructions of President Ilham Aliyev.

The minister also noted the need to intensify the work envisaged by the action plan. He added that the measures taken to coordinate the activities of the customs and tax authorities will have a positive result.

Earlier, the State Customs Committee reported that in January-April 2018, Azerbaijan’s foreign trade turnover amounted to $8.68 billion. At the same time, exports for the mentioned period amounted to $5.65 billion, imports - $3.26 billion.

Thus, in January-April 2018, the foreign trade turnover of Azerbaijan increased by 55.1 percent, including exports - by 64.7 percent, imports by 39.7 percent.

In the structure of exports, the main volume was accounted for oil (81.94 percent), petroleum products, natural gas, electricity, fruits and vegetables, tea, sugar, alcoholic and nonalcoholic products, chemical products, plastic and products made of them, cotton, ferrous metals and products made of them, aluminum and products made of them, etc.

Among imported goods, the main volume fell for foodstuffs (14.73 percent), tobacco and tobacco products, cement, pharmaceutical products, plastic and products made of them, firewood and wood products, ferrous metals and products made of them, machinery, mechanisms, electrical apparatus, equipment and spare parts for them, vehicles and spare parts for them, furniture, etc.

During the reporting period, Azerbaijan traded with 153 countries.

In January-April 2018, Azerbaijan carried out export operations mainly with Italy (24.75 percent of total exports), Israel (9.17 percent), Turkey (7.37 percent), Indonesia (5.53 percent), Taiwan (4.91 percent), Germany (4.9 percent), the Czech Republic (4.42 percent).

The country also carried out import operations with Russia (17.4 percent), Turkey (15.47 percent), China (10.14 percent), Germany (7.85 percent), and the U.S (4.69 percent).