The “Reforms Review” of the Center for Analysis of Economic Reforms and Communication is dedicated to regional leadership of Azerbaijan in paperless trade.

According to the UNESCAP report for the current year, in comparison with 2019, Azerbaijan showed a five-percent-increase with an overall 86.02 percent in terms of paperless trade.  Azerbaijan ranked first both among neighboring countries (Russia - 84.95 percent, Georgia - 82.8 percent, Iran - 77.42 percent, Armenia - 62.37 percent and Turkey - 86.02 percent) and among CIS countries. It should be noted that average world ratio is 64.95 percent and average ratio in developed countries – 81.86 percent. 

The “Reforms Review” mentions that extensive reforms carried out by President Ilham Aliyev resulted in the creation of the Digital Trade Hub portal and the implementation of measures taken following the Decree of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan “On additional measures for strengthening of the position of the Republic of Azerbaijan as a Digital Trade Hub and expansion of foreign trade operations” led to the simplification of cross-border trade procedures, facilitated the development of electronic and paperless trade, especially cross-border paperless trade.

It is no coincidence that for cross-border paperless trade sub-indicator of the ranking, Azerbaijan has reached 33% increase in 2 years, thus, taking leading position at the global level in terms of the pace of development in this field. Reforms in the field of customs - creation of such e-systems as Green Corridor, Automated Customs System and One Stop Shop, electronic filling of customs declarations and e-submission of certificates, as well as e-payment of customs duties and taxes served to the simplification of trade procedures in Azerbaijan. Thus, full implementation of cross-border paperless trade in the ranking improved position of Azerbaijan. At the same time, the fact that Azerbaijan was one of the first countries to sign the Framework Agreement on Facilitation of Cross-border Paperless Trade in Asia and the Pacific of February 20, 2021 contributed to improving the position of the country in this field globally.

A special issue of the “Reforms Review” can be viewed by the following link:

https://bit.ly/3jeu8GI

It should be mentioned that the Center for Analysis of Economic Reforms and Communication is a National Coordinator of the UNESCAP.