A conference was organized on “Economic reforms and modern challenges to improve the business environment”

On March 7, 2024, a conference on “Economic reforms and modern challenges to improve the business environment” was held under the organization of the Commission for Business Environment and International Ratings. State and government representatives, heads and members of the Commission’s working groups, as well as representatives of the private sector and company leaders took part in the conference.

The conference was opened and moderated by Vusal Gasimli, executive director of the Center for Analysis and Communication of Economic Reforms (IITKM). He said that (IITKM) aims to support green and digital transformation in line with global trends and stimulate sustainable economic development through the “azranking.az” portal, which is a digital management platform for economic reforms. According to V. Gasimli, the reform agenda and promotion policy under the leadership of President Ilham Aliyev, as well as the Great Return, Baku master plan, green energy, transport and logistics, industry, regional development and privatization programs can accelerate the attraction of non-state investments.

Vusal Shikhaliyev, head of the Department of Economic Policy and Industrial Affairs of the Administration of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, head of the Secretariat of the Commission, made a presentation on “Activities of the Commission on Business Environment and International Ratings for 2023 and upcoming priorities”. He informed that in 2023, according to the mandate of the Commission, 5 new working groups and 2 new coordination groups were created in priority areas at the initiative of the relevant state agencies. In general, 25 working groups, 2 coordinating groups and 4 subgroups on specific areas (environmental transport, scientific potential, cross-border trade and ESG) operate within the Commission, and the total number of members of the working groups of the Commission is more than 660. V. Shikhaliyev noted that in the reporting year, taking into account modern challenges, new priority directions of action were determined and their implementation was ensured. Over the past year, 13 road maps (472 measures in total) related to the “Business Ready” report of the World Bank, as well as 14 Action Plans and road maps in other important areas have been implemented. Within the framework of the commission, under the guidance of the relevant state institutions, more than 30 normative legal acts were drafted and submitted accordingly, and important legislative documents serving to increase the business environment were adopted. It is aimed to organize more efficient and flexible coordination/communication within the Commission, as well as to create inclusiveness and synergy.

At the conference, Natavan Mammadova, Secretary General of the Confederation of Entrepreneurs of Azerbaijan, spoke on the topic “Public-private dialogue: new opportunities and modern challenges”. In addition, presentations on improvement of Azerbaijani legislation, improvement of the business environment, support for the improvement of the investment environment of the private sector, development of financial services, provision of e-government services and reforms on internet infrastructure, environmental safety, reforms in the construction sector, creation of an information system related to real estate and other topics were made.

It should be noted that the Commission on Business Environment and International Ratings was established by the Order of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan on July 13, 2016. The purpose of the commission is to create a business environment that will ensure the optimal profitability of entrepreneurial activity and be based on the principles of competition, to increase the country’s investment attractiveness, to improve the legislation and administration in order to further improve the position of Azerbaijan in international rankings, and to achieve the implementation of other necessary measures in this direction.