1. The Republic of Azerbaijan The Ministry of Economic Development

2.  General Information  Relations with WTO  Statistic (SPECA, World)  Single Window  Ministerial Declaration  National and regional AfT action plans for SPECA

3.  Capital Baku  Population 9 mln  Religion Islam  Economy Azerbaijan's high economic growth during 2006-10 was attributable to large and growing oil and gas exports, but some non-export sectors also featured double-digit growth, including construction, banking, and real estate. In 2012, economic growth picked up to 3.8%.

4.  GDP ( purchasing power parity) $98.16 billion (2012) country comparison to the world: 75  GDP ( real growth rate) 3.8% (2012) country comparison to the world: 90  GDP ( per capita) $10,700 (2012) country comparison to the world: 113  Labor force 6.206 million (2012) country comparison to the world: 66  Unemployment rate 1 % (2012) country comparison to the world: 6  Tax and other revenues 32.7% of GDP (2012) country comparison to the world: 84

5.  Budget revenues: $23.25 billion expenditures: $25.55 billion (2012)  Agriculture products cotton, grain, rice, grapes, fruit, vegetables, tea, tobacco; cattle, pigs, sheep, goats  Industries petroleum and natural gas, petroleum products, oilfield equipment; steel, iron ore; cement; chemicals and petrochemicals; textiles  Exports $30.58 billion (2012) country comparison to the world: 64  Export partners Italy 32.6%, France 13.3%, US 7.6%, Germany 6.3%, Indonesia 5.4%, Czech Republic 5.3% (2012)

6.  Imports $10.78 billion (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 92  Import commodities machinery and equipment, oil products, foodstuffs, metals, chemicals  Import partners Turkey 18.1%, Russia 15.4%, China 7.8%, Germany 7.2%, UK 6.1%, Ukraine 4.6%, Italy 4.2% (2011)  Exchange rates Azerbaijani manats (AZN) per US dollar 0.78 (2012 est.)

7.  THE ACCESSION OF AZERBAIJAN TO WTO made ​​on June 23, 1997.  MULTILATERAL NEGOTIATIONS  PLURILATERAL NEGOTIATIONS  BILATERAL NEGOTIATIONS  NATIONAL LEGISLATION INTO CONFORMITY WITH WTO REQUIREMENTS  COMMISSION ON PREPARATION OF AZERBAIJAN’S ACCESSION TO WTO  PUBLIC AWARENESS

8.  Volume of trade 262.62 million $  Volume of import 141.07 million $  Volume of export 121.55 million $  Foreign trade saldo -19.52 million $  share of the foreign trade turnover 1.8 percent  Import was 3.2 percent  export was 1.2 percent

9. Foreign trade turnover between Azerbaijan and SPECA countries 2013 Turnover Import Export Saldo 2012-52013-52012-52013-52012-52013-52012-52013-5 Total 14 409,3914 725,613 674,844 359,8110 734,5510 365,807 059,716 005,99 SPECA 280,66262,62151,92141,07128,74121,55-23,18-19,52 Kazakhstan 157,90147,97141,04124,9716,8623,00-124,18-101,97 Turkmenistan 33,9132,596,2112,8427,7019,7521,496,91 Afghanistan 54,1770,870,000,1554,1770,7254,1770,57 Kyrgyzstan 2,404,210,580,481,823,731,243,25 Uzbekistan 12,464,103,952,638,511,474,56-1,16 Tajikistan 19,822,880,140,0019,682,8819,542,88 Source: State Statistical Committee of the Republic of Azerbaijan

10.  Volume of turnover 14.725,61 mln $  Volume of import 4.359,81 mln$  Volume of export 10.365,80 mln $ During this period the Republic of Azerbaijan trade with 135 countries, and the foreign trade balance was positive 6.005,99 million. U.S. dollars. During January-May 2013, the export sector division With mln US $ Comparison to the 2012 2012-52013-5%Us $ Oil and gas industry 10 073,959 619,89-4,51-454,06 Non-oil sector 660,60745,9112,9185,31 Total 10 734,5510 365,80-3,44-368,75 Source: State Custom Committee

11. The main trade partners Export rank Import Countries US $% Countries US $% Italia 2 334,6522,52 1 Russia 623,4014,30 I ndonesia 1 112,2210,73 2 Turkey 573,6013,16 Thailand 1 022,539,86 3 Great Britain 420,899,65 Germany 780,087,53 4 France 334,427,67 Russia 543,405,24 5 Germany 286,386,57 India 520,245,02 6 China 275,046,31 Taiwan 467,314,51 7 Ukraine 247,485,68 Israel 417,654,03 8 Japan 167,063,83 France 394,583,81 9 USA 148,493,41

12. The main trade partners Export rank Import Greece 316,553,05 10 Kazakhstan 124,972,87 Portugal 300,732,90 11 Korea 118,492,72 USA 244,802,36 12 Switzerland 96,172,21 Georgia 235,922,28 13 Italy 91,862,11 Turkey 231,012,23 14 Brazil 88,682,03 Czech 199,871,93 15 Iran84,321,93 Others 1 244,2612,00 Others678,5615,56 Total 10 365,80100,00 Total4 359,81100,00

13.  Azerbaijan is an important part of the “Silk Way” and north south transport corridor. This increases the importance of Azerbaijan for international trade.  State Program on development of customs system of the Azerbaijan Republic in 2007-2011  Application of the “SW principle” on inspecting the goods and vehicles passing the state border checkpoints of the Republic of Azerbaijan (2008) Significance of «Single Window»  Access to information resources  Integrated system  Data identification and security  Search tool, monitoring and reporting  Scope and flexibility

14. For GovernmentFor Private Sector efficient deployment of resourcesCutting costs through reducing delays and informal payments Correct revenue statisticsFaster clearance and release Improved trader compliancePredictable application & explanation of rules Enhanced securityMore effective & efficient deployment of resources Increased integrity & transparencyIncreased transparency Less Processing Steps

15.  Held in Baku 2010  is the first high-level event for transition economies since the launching of the AfT initiative at the 2005 WTO Hong Kong Ministerial.  122 delegates  One of the key outcomes was the signing of a Ministerial Declaration  The Conference also launched the SPECA Regional Aid-for-Trade Implementation and Monitoring Council (SPECA AfT Council), to provide a follow-up mechanism for monitoring and supporting AfT initiatives in SPECA countries  The organization of the Conference was coordinated by the UNECE and benefited from the financial, organizational and advisory support of a number of UN agencies and specialized institutions, making it an important example of the UN “delivering as one”.

16.  Introduction:  The revision of the national and regional AfT action matrices sought to update the matrices, provide development partners with a tool for planning better future trade development activities  Regional Goals: (RG) 1. Developing national supply side capacity 2. Harnessing of cross-border cooperation 3. Facilitating the beneficial integration of SPECA countries into the multilateral trading system

17. Aid –for-Trade Roadmap for SPECA Action Matrix-AZERBAIJAN Priority Action Areas ObjectivesOutcomesActionsRegional plan Responsibility AZ1 Trade Policy AZ1.1 A modern legislative and Customs management system that is conductive to trade AZ1.1.1 National Customs legislation that is harmonized with relevant regional and WTO requirements AZ1.1.1.1 Adopt a new revised Customs Code AZ1.1.1.2 Assess VAT on the basis of the “origination principle” RG3State Customs Committee Cabinet of Ministers(CM) AZ2 Trade Facilitation AZ2.1 To minimize and make predictable transaction costs for exporters and importers AZ2.1.1 Simplified harmonized and standardized trade related procedures and documentary requirements AZ2.1.1.1 Simplify and rationalize the requirements and procedures for all permits and approvals required for export import operations RG2&3CM, Line Ministries AZ3 Trade Service and Infrastructure AZ3.1 Expanded and better quality trade related services and related infrastructure AZ3.1.1 Increased and improved trade financing AZ3.1.1.1 Establish the export import Bank of Azerbaijan to provide financial assistance to exporter and importers RG1