President Ilham Aliyev has approved the Law on Amendments to the Customs Code. The changes hold exceptional significance in terms of facilitating trade, accelerating digital transformation, and establishing a more transparent institutional framework for participants in foreign economic activity.

Commenting on the topic, Aykhan Gadashov, Head of the "Azexport.az" portal of the Center for Analysis of Economic Reforms and Communication, stated that in an era where speed and transparency are decisive in global supply chains, the new rules promise major advantages for our local producers. These reforms should be viewed not merely as an administrative legislative act, but as a unified partnership ecosystem built on mutual trust in business-customs relations. The core philosophy of the decree lies in minimizing delays at the border and ensuring a faster return of working capital to businesses.

The changes envisioned in the document are of vital importance for accelerating export processes and increasing logistical efficiency. In this framework, the preparation of conditions by the Cabinet of Ministers for granting Authorized Economic Operator (AEO) status will expand the application of the preferential customs regime intended for reliable business entities in international trade. As a result, companies holding AEO status will be subject to fewer customs inspections, border release of goods will be accelerated, and clearance procedures will be simplified.

Furthermore, the transition to a customs audit model entails shifting the primary burden of control from border-crossing checkpoints to the accounting and internal information systems of enterprises. This approach will allow goods to pass through the border more promptly without delay, while audit checks will be conducted at a post-clearance stage. Consequently, export operations will speed up, and the efficiency of logistical processes will improve. At the same time, updating the forms of customs control will further strengthen the application of a risk-based management model. Thus, exporters who comply with legislative requirements and operate transparently will face fewer inspections, focusing control efforts primarily on high-risk operations.

Aykhan Gadashov emphasized that the most notable aspect of the reforms for the non-oil sector—especially the agro-industrial complex—is the simplified clearance procedures. Simplifying the clearance of perishable goods such as fruits, vegetables, dairy products, meat, fish, and flowers, as well as live animals, will ensure the timely delivery of our agricultural products to foreign markets without quality loss. To optimize processes, the filling out of electronic declarations, as well as the updating of notification and act forms by the State Customs Committee, will reduce the human factor and potential errors, making document workflow significantly more agile.

The full implementation of these planned changes will optimize foreign trade operations by minimizing waiting times for containers and trucks at the border. This, in turn, will enable foreign buyers to receive goods faster, thereby increasing the global competitiveness of our local companies and making a significant contribution to the long-term sustainable development of Azerbaijan's economy.