The State Customs Committee presents the draft of Azerbaijan's new Customs Code based on EU standards

Baku, 15 November 2006 - The State Customs Committee (SCC) of the Republic of Azerbaijan presented this morning the draft of the country's new Customs Code in a special ceremony in the Excelsior Hotel. The event was part of the joint project of the European Union (EU) and United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) for "Modernization of Customs Services in Azerbaijan".

Launched in 2006, the 900 000 EUR project funded by EU and executed by UNDP envisages the upgrading of customs legislation in conformity with modern international standards, in particular the EU Customs Code, and support for designing of strategies on the development of information technologies (IT) within the State Customs Committee.

The drafting of the new customs code carried out in consultation with key government agencies and trade associations, as well as customs authorities of other countries is the first step in creating new legislative framework for the customs service of the country, said the Chairman of the State Customs Committee Lieutenant-General of the customs service Mr. Aydin Aliyev in his opening remarks at event. He also stressed the role of customs in the replenishment of the country's budget, facilitating export-import operations and managing risks related to smuggling.

Noting that the effectiveness of the customs service in the modern world depends on the successful application of information communication technologies, Mr. Aliyev highly appreciated cooperation with UNDP in this field. According to him, UNDP projects contributed greatly to the process of automation of the customs services, in particular, the creation of the unified computerized network of customs points linked to the central customs office. "Today the customs officials in the regions can communicate directly through video-conference facilities, without leaving their offices", he said.

"Today's event is another step in modernization of Azerbaijan's customs service" described the event the UN Resident Coordinator, UNDP Resident Representative in Azerbaijan Mr. Marco Borsotti. He hailed the professionalism of SCC staff and international and national experts involved in the project who have succeeded in making the first draft of the Customs Code in several months despite time pressure. Mr. Borsotti also welcomed the collaboration of the European Commission as the largest provider of resources for the customs modernization project.

Referring to the seven-year history of cooperation with the Committee, the UNDP Representative said the main objective of the joint work was to make the customs service more modern, efficient and client-friendly. Mr. Borsotti stressed the significant progress achieved in the quality of customs services in the country since the day "when we started cooperation" . He recalled that the Committee was the in the forefront within the Government of Azerbaijan in introducing the IT while now the experience is utilised by many other structures of the government. However, Mr. Borsotti warned that "these instruments are as good as they are utilised and procedures are becoming part of life. It should be the task ahead to make sure that all what has been created is becoming normal practice and is fully implemented in all its various components. If successful, this will contribute to the further development of this country and alleviation of the existing social problems that Azerbaijan has been facing."

Coordinator of the Europa House representing the European Union Mr. Volfgang Sporrer dwelled on the strengthening of cooperation between the EU and Azerbaijan. He referred to the yesterday's adoption by the EU of the Action Plan outlining the main directions of EU-Azerbaijan cooperation in the coming five years. According to him, the implementation of the action plan will require an assistance programme to be called "EU Neighbourhood and Partnership Initiative". This programme will have an instrument of twinning allowing for the sharing of EU expertise with Azerbaijan in various sectors including public administration reform, of which modernization of customs service is part.

Chief Technical Adviser of the Project Mr. Collin Stringer made a presentation on the achievements of the project and key elements of the draft of the new Customs Code.

At the close of the ceremony Mr. Borsotti and Mr. Aliyev signed the agreement between UNDP and the Committee on the extension of the project for the next year.

 Modernization of Customs Services (Draft-Customs Code Presentation)


For more information:
Mr. Mezahir Efendiyev
Chief of Law-Enforcement Unit
Tel: 493 15 13