Business

OVER 96,000 VOUCHERS WITHDRAWN FROM CIRCULATION

Ministry for State Property announced Saturday the results of the 50th specialized voucher auction held in late March. Shares of 21 joint stock companies were put on sale. As a result, 96,206 privatization vouchers were exchanged for shares and withdrawn from circulation.

Particularly popular were the "BakuDamirBeton" (reinforced concrete) and the "BakuSanTekhElectrik-Gurashdirma" (sanitary engineering) JSCs, which drew 32,983 and 19,182 vouchers respectively.

The highest voucher rate was registered in the "EnerjiGurashdirma" (energy-supply) JSC: two shares per voucher, while the lowest - in the "MingachevirMashinTamir" (mechanical repair) JSC: 185 shares per voucher.

EUROPEAN CUSTOMS TO PROVIDE EURO400,000 IN AID

The "Customs-7" and "Anti-narcotic program in South Caucasus" projects will be signed in the near future as part of the EU Tacis program.

This was announced at a meeting of a Tacis European Customs manager Mrs. Jane Hassan with the deputy chairman of the Azerbaijan state customs committee Aydin Aliyev in Baku.

The parties have decided that Euro400,000 worth of assistance would be provided to the Azerbaijan customs as part of the "Customs-7" in December.

PUBLIC CONTROL OVER PRIVATIZATION INTRODUCED

A round-table on "Policy of privatization and anticipated results" was held Thursday at the "Ayna/Zerkalo" newspaper's editorial office. Participants focused on results of the first stage of privatization, issues surrounding the future denationalization of medium and large enterprises.

Attending the meeting were representatives of Musavat, PNIA, PFPA, ALP, Azadlig parties, NGOs and independent experts. Despite being invited, representatives of the government (Ministry of State Property, State Committee on Securities, President's office, etc.) didn't show up.

Speakers pointed to the negative aspects that emerged during privatization and claimed that the government is not interested in eliminating them.

A Musavat spokesman Gubad Ibadoglu said further expansion of monopolization was observed. As an example, he referred to "AzPetrol", which owns 80% of service stations in the country. Objections were voiced to the privatization of military enterprises.

A decision was passed in conclusion to set up a public council on control over privatization, which would include political parties, NGOs, and experts.

INFORMATION AND CONSULTATION SERVICE FOR FARMERS

Implementation of the "Information and Consultative Services" component of the WB-funded "Agricultural development and crediting project" has been launched by the Agency for Assistance to Private Sector Development in Agriculture. The Agency's instructor Rahid Aliyev has told Azernews that this is the second of five project components and is intended to increase farmers' revenues and provide those involved in the agricultural sector with necessary information.

The work of the "Information and consultative services" component started with 6 provinces of Nakhchivan. A Regional Consultative Center (RCC) has been set up to facilitate provision of the mentioned services. Implementation of the project component is to be executed through the establishment of such Centers in 5 regions of Azerbaijan.

For a smooth organization of information and consultative services, 60 private consultants were chosen through a tender on the first stage. Then they underwent a training by the Center specialists. Afterwards, 30 of them received the qualifications of private consultants and provided certificates. Currently, 10 private consultants work in Sharur province of Nakhchivan, 8 in Babak, 4 in Ordubad, 3 in Julfa and Shahbuz, and 2 in Sadarak.

Functions of private consultants include conducting 2-day training courses for farmers, identifying training needs of farmers and land owners and expanding consultative services.

$33.6 million has been allocated for the second component of the project.