The “Reform Review” by the Center for Analysis of Economic Reforms and Communication (CAERC) is dedicated to the Action Plan developed to reduce the negative impact of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic and the resulting sharp fluctuations in global energy and stock markets on Azerbaijan’s economy, macroeconomic stability, employment, and business entities.

The review presents the three main directions of the Action Plan—support for economic growth and entrepreneurship, support for employment and social welfare, and support for macroeconomic and financial stability—in detail, accompanied by infographic visualizations.

It should be noted that urgent measures will be implemented in the near term to mitigate the pandemic’s negative effects on the national economy. The “Reform Review” details the key financial support programs that serve as primary instruments for supporting economic growth and entrepreneurship, including:

• Financial support program for paying wages of salaried employees
• Financial support program for individual (micro) entrepreneurs
• Tax relief, exemptions, and deferrals program for business entities
• Credit-guarantee support program for newly issued bank loans
• Credit-guarantee support program for existing loan portfolios
• Social assistance package to support the population’s financial well-being
• Support program for covering tuition fees of students from socially vulnerable households
• Financial support program for mortgage and credit-guarantee mechanisms
• Utility payment support program for electricity consumption
• Support program for essential passenger transport activities

Through infographics, the review explains the amount of financial aid allocated by the state for each program, the sectors covered, and the applicable rules. The “Reform Review” can be accessed at the following link:

http://iqtisadiislahat.org/store//media/2020/Aprel/COVID_19_alb.pdf