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DEFENSE MINISTRY TO GIVE HAND TO LIGHT INDUSTRY
As reported earlier, the Ministry of Economics has prepared a number of suggestions on improving the situation in Azerbaijan's light industry. This time, the proposals envision cooperation of the sector with the Defense Ministry, according to a source from the Ministry of Economics.
The possibility of making clothes, camouflage, bed linen, etc. for the army is being explored.
JUSTICE TO BE ADMINISTERED BY HISTORY
Israel recognizes and condemns Armenian genocide in Ottoman Turkey. At the same time, Israel disagrees to the fact that separate countries give assessments to such incidents. Let the justice be administered by history, Israeli Charge D'affaires in Baku Shmuel Moyal said Tuesday commenting on his country's attitude toward the genocide.
ECO MEMBER-STATES TALK OVER PROSPECTS
A meeting of deputy foreign ministers of ECO member-states was held in Tehran February 8, focusing on improving the organization's work.
According to a diplomatic source, the parties have also discussed prospects of further trade, economic and humanitarian cooperation within the ECO framework. Azerbaijan was represented by deputy foreign minister Khalaf Khalafov.
ORDER OF ADDITIONAL ELECTION TO MUNICIPALITIES AMENDED
The CEC adopted the instructions for holding additional election to municipalities on April 27. The new document is expected to differ a little from the one compiled for the 1999 elections.
According to the CEC secretary Gudrat Hasanguliyev, residents of a given constituency can nominate their candidacies in any municipal council. Besides, the instructions limit the participation of NGOs and legal entities co-owned by foreign organizations by 70%.
The CEC chairman Mazahir Panahov described the instructions as an improvement to the previous ones.
ARMENIAN GOODS IN AZERBAIJAN?
According to the chairman of the Union of Free Consumers Ayyub Husseinov, Armenia and Azerbaijan maintain unofficial trade relations, as dealers of the two countries exchange goods in Georgia.
Mr. Husseinov said he had once bought Armenian "Jubilee" cognac produced by "Ararat" firm and canned herring packaged in Murmansk but bearing an Armenian label. He said he was going to inform the government of this.
LUMP-SUM DUTIES CUT THREEFOLD
Lump-sum duties deducted from physical entities engaged in commerce have been reduced more than three times, according to the consumer market and services department under Mayor's office.
Starting from February, the volume of such duties will depend on the area covered. The first category includes kiosks in Baku, Sumgayit and Ganja, the second - Nakhchivan, Mingachevir, Shaki, Lankaran, Yevlakh, Ali-Bayramli, Naftalan, while the third - the rest of Azerbaijan. The fee for the first category will be AZM1,000, second - AZM800 and third AZM500.
UNDP ANNOUNCES NEW TENDER
The UNDP has announced a tender for the procurement of equipment for Emergency Management Centers as part of the project "National program of re-organization of the emergency management system in Azerbaijan". The UN Baku office has told AssA-Irada that another competition is underway for preparation of a feasibility study on establishing a system of communication and warning. Deadline for applications is February 19.
IBA TO BE PRIVATIZED THIS YEAR, UUB IN 3 YEARS
The United Universal Bank (UUB) will be privatized in 3 years, while privatization of the International Bank of Azerbaijan (IBA) is expected to complete this year, Minister for Finance Avaz Alakbarov told journalists Tuesday.
"The International Bank currently controls 70% of Azerbaijan's bank services market. In order to prevent market monopolization, the government is going to take measures on establishing a private sector of competitive banks", he said.
As far as the Agri-Industrial Bank is concerned, Min. Alakbarov says its fate will be determined in March. The government has yet to decide whether to transfer its functions in the WB project "Privatization of pilot farms" to another bank, he said.
RECORD GRAIN PRODUCTION ACHIEVED
In 2000, Azerbaijan reached record grain production by picking 1,540,000 tons of grain from the sown area of 649,100 hectares. The figure is 441,700 tons over 1999. The Ministry of Agriculture has told Azernews that the surge was preconditioned by higher yield capacity. 2.4 tons of grain, or 0.25 tons over 1999, was harvested from a hectare.
Among important crops are grain, barley and maize, as 495,400 hectares (76.3%) were cultivated with grain, 108,500 (16.7%) with barley and 33,200 (5.1%) with maize.
AZERBAIJAN LOSING $22-23 MLN A YEAR
By deducting the Value Added Tax in economic relations with Russia on the principle of production, not consumption, Azerbaijan loses $22-23 million every year. Besides, the production principle contradicts the nature of taxation, according to the chairman of the permanent MM commission on issues of economic policy Sattar Safarov.
He said in 2000, Russia exported $246.4 million worth of goods to Azerbaijan, while Azerbaijan exported goods totaling $98.7 million. The balance of $147.7 million is in favor of Russia.
According to him, deduction of VAT on the consumption principle, pursuant to the agreement with Russia on indirect taxation in mutual trade, is expected since July 1 (if the agreement is ratified by Russian State Duma by then).
AUCTIONS HELD AT BAKU STOCK EXCHANGE
8 banks took part in the latest auction on placement of state short-term loans. The total value of orders constituted AZM5,693,000,000. The loans are to be repaid on May 14, 2001.
JOBS FOR REFUGEES
In 2000, 17 enterprises were set up within the Main Employment Department, including 5 in refugee and IDP settlements.
A total of 39 enterprises function in refugee settlements, employing around 1,200 people. Over the last 4 years, the enterprises have transferred more than AZM127 million to the Main Employment Department.
INTERTURAN EXPANDING WORK
The "Interturan" company, largely engaged in production of furniture and construction materials, has embarked on construction of a major cannery in Shamakhi, according to its president Saday Ahmadov. The zone has rich fruit and vegetable resources, which will enable not only to produce cans of different assortment, but also to provide jobs to people.
COMMUNICATION SECTOR WAGES ABOVE COUNTRY's AVERAGE
In 2000, the number of people employed in the communication sector went down 7% to 21,000 people, with average wages of AZM316,000. Salaries in the private sector were five times higher - AZM1,527,000.
The value of communication services provided constituted AZM728 billion, or 34% over 1999. 61% of the revenues were formed in the private sector.
WB ALLOTS $30 MILLION IN AGRICULTURAL CREDITING
The World Bank has allocated $30 million for implementation of the first program of crediting of Azerbaijan's agricultural sector, according to the coordinator of the development project in 6 pilot farms under the Cabinet of Ministers Vagif Husseinov.
He said the program envisions crediting of farms, use of water resources, registration of lands, development of the drainage system and residential settlements, and establishment of an information center.
CIS COMMUNICATION SPECIALISTS TO FOCUS ON DEVELOPMENT PROSPECTS
Azeri communication specialists are expected to attend an international congress, "Development of telecommunications and building an informed society in CIS countries", due in St. Petersburg February 21-23.
The congress will focus on prospects of modernizing telecommunication services, ways of regulating the use of radio frequency resources, development of satellite communications, tele-medicine, etc., Ministry of Communications told Azernews Monday.
The congress will be held on the initiative of the CIS inter-parliamentary assembly, Regional Commonwealth in the area of Communication and Russian Ministry of Communications.
Azernews
AssA-Irada
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Issue No.7 (189), 2001
President to visit TurkeyPA CE to consider azeri genocide issueFrench scholars defy "Armenian genocide"Deadly protest action terminatedChevron officially agrees to join BTC sponsorsNews digestNationParliament newsOpposition newsNews in briefBusinessOil & gas news
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