Azerbaijan to fully switch to electronic format in 2013

On 13-14 June, 2012, UNECE, USAID, and the Government of Georgia  held the 2-nd regional  conference titled ‘Trade facilitation, ‘One Window’ concept and harmonization of trade data requirements in the South Caucasus’ in Tbilisi.  The 2 day activity discussed issues connected with the application of modern technologies for facilitating trade in  the Caucasus and Black Sea region.

 According to information provided to ICTnews by the State Customs Committee of the Republic of Azerbaijan, the head of the Statistics and Information Technologies Department of the State Customs Committee Major General Igbal Babayev took part in this conference, which was attended by around 100 representatives of private companies and border-custom structures of Azerbaijan,  Georgia, Turkey, Armenia and Ukraine.

In its information the Committee says that during the conference the deputy director of the Revenues Service of Georgia Lili Begashvili, the expert of the ‘Data Exchange’ project of  the Ministry of Justice of Georgia Paata Sirbiladze and the head of the Statistics and Information Technologies Department of the State Customs Committee of Azerbaijan Igbal Babayev made statements on various topics, including the introduction of the ‘One Window’ system in custom offices, promotion of trade, digitalization of circulation of administrative documents used at check-points  of custom offices,  standardization of procedures carried out at custom offices and future projects.  In his statement Igbar Babayev told the conference participants about the novelties recently introduced in check points of custom offices in Azerbaijan. He noted that on January 1, 2012 Azerbaijan will start realization of the ‘One Window’ principle.

‘Previously, several ministries were involved  in the process of checking goods and vehicles at check-points, and this caused some difficulties.   Now, only the State Customs Committee has authority to conduct these inspections.  Thanks to the ‘One Window’ system the volume of goods exported to Azerbaijan has significantly increased. 

We want our check points to switch from paper-based service to  electronic service, and we are taking certain measures in this regard’, he said.   At the end of the first day of the conference an 8 minute long film about the introduction of electronic customs system in Azerbaijan was shown on UNECE’s  regional advisor Mario Apostolov’s  request. 

After that, I.Babayev answered participants’ questions concerning the film and told them about the application of the ‘One Window’ system in Azerbaijan.  ‘After introduction of this electronic service in all check points of all custom offices in Azerbaijan, the volume of cargo transportation increased by 3-4 times. We use the ‘One Window’ system to enhance Azerbaijan’s economic and  state security. 

This service is transparent for all relevant ministries and organizations. Some of procedures connected with circulation of documents have not been digitalized yet. But in 2013 Azerbaijan will fully switch to electronic format and all procedures will be carried out electronically. 

---