The first meeting of the Cooperation Council between the Azerbaijan State Customs Committee and Azerbaijan Entrepreneurs Confederation was held effectively
The first meeting of the Cooperation Council between the Azerbaijan State Customs Committee and the Azerbaijan Entrepreneurs Confederation was held on May 27.
The ASK was represented by a delegation of entrepreneurs headed by Vugar Abbasov, Vice President of the Confederation and members of the Confederation.
The State Customs Committee included the representatives headed by First Deputy Chairman of the Committee Ismayil Huseynov. I.Huseynov noted that the success of the business environment in Azerbaijan has been achieved and the role of Azerbaijan in the international trade chain has been rising. Referring to the duties of the State Customs Committee in import-export operations, Huseynov said that radical reforms were implemented for entrepreneurs to carry out import-export operations in a convenient and easy way.
“We are trying to fulfill the tasks set for the well-being of every Azerbaijani. As a result of radical reforms, we immediately resolve any problems to establish a completely different and transparent action, “said the deputy chairman, adding that they were ready to approve the Charter of the Cooperation Council and to discuss the eight proposals raised by the ASK.
ASK Vice President Vugar Abbasov thanked the Chairman of the Committee, Safar Mehdiyev for the sincere reception, and said that the Cooperation Council would work closely together to eliminate the problems in this area.
Speaking at the discussions, entrepreneur Bashir Guliyev said that the quality of products included in the “fresh” category faster than expected, and said that customs clearance lapsed and that the Azerbaijani products were late to the Russian market.
“As you know, sometimes palm, sometimes tomato is the first in this category. Now it’s a season of tomatoes and earlier Azerbaijani products have reached the Russian market for 4-5 days, now it takes 7-8 days,” Guliyev said, paying attention to this problem. He also said there were difficulties in promoting the incentive mechanisms that played a major role in boosting domestic production and attracting investment, and that barriers to customs clearance were imported into the country.
The entrepreneur said that all the products brought to the country for expertise increased the workload of the expertise as well as caused the delay in the shipment. The customs officials were offered to create conditions for the carriage of goods within the limits of their responsibilities.
Commenting on these issues, the Committee official said that some goods had difficulties with the implementation of the incentive mechanisms. For example, the equipment listed under the “irrigation system” in the incentive document enters into the register as part of it, since its documentation is delayed and sent for expertise, as the codes of all these parts are not encouraged. Therefore, it was decided to hold a joint meeting of the Ministry of Economy of Azerbaijan, the Confederation of Entrepreneurs of Azerbaijan and the State Customs Committee of Azerbaijan to resolve this issue by the Committee’s proposal. The Committee, in its turn, put forward an invitation document, such as an initial proposal, on invoices or specification.
Commenting on these issues, the Committee official said that some goods had difficulties with the implementation of the incentive mechanisms. For example, the equipment listed under the “irrigation system” in the incentive document enters into the register as part of it, since its documentation is delayed and sent for expertise, as the codes of all these parts are not encouraged. Therefore, it was decided to hold a joint meeting of the Ministry of Economy of Azerbaijan, the Azerbaijan Entrepreneurs Confederation and the State Customs Committee of the Republic of Azerbaijan to resolve this issue by the Committee’s proposal. The Committee, in its turn, as an initial proposal put forward an incentive document on invoices or specification.
Entrepreneur Mikayil Yusif touched upon the issue of the value of the goods imported and the problem of identifying the prices of goods with electronic carriers. He also requested to a quick respond to entrepreneurs to their use of the Green Corridor.
Vugar Abbasov, vice-president of the ASK, noted that some entrepreneurs actually changed the invoice, prices are showed lower prices, noting that these “actions” were not for all entrepreneurs. He underlined the importance of having a different position in Azerbaijan, emphasizing the entrepreneurship of entrepreneurs operating in Azerbaijan for a long time. Deputy Chairman of the Committee I.Huseynov welcomed this proposal and proposed to prepare a list of “Friendly Customs”. I.Huseynov also proposed to send an official letter to the Committee to add the ASK members to the Green Corridor. “Businessmen who are members of the ASK are the elites of the Azerbaijani economy,” said Huseynov, creating the Working Group to work more closely.
“In Azerbaijan, we have a record system, hit the shadow economy. Together with the Ministry of Taxes, registration of all entrepreneurs will take place in the Green Corridor. Also, the concept of customs regulations simplification will be adopted in Azerbaijan. The customs officer will be given 30 minutes to justify keeping the burden on the customs office, and the declaration will be postponed to the next formal stage, if not substantiated during that time,” said Deputy Chairman of the State Customs Committee, starting from July 1, 2019, these rules will come into force.
At the end of the meeting it was decided that the Azerbaijan Entrepreneurs Confederation will submit the discussions and proposals to the State Customs Committee.