President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Mr. Ilham Aliyev signed a Decree on “Defining and regulating the payment mechanism of the part of costs paid on account of state budget as incurred for organization of export missions to foreign countries, investigation of foreign markets and marketing activities, promotion of “Made in Azerbaijan” brand in foreign markets, receipt by local companies of certificates and patents in the foreign countries, export – related research – development programs and projects.

Center for Analysis of Economic Reforms and Communication reported that, as per Decree, there was approved the Rules for defining part of the costs covered by government as incurred for providing bringing of local products to foreign markets, investigating the markets, promoting “Made in Azerbaijan” brand in foreign markets (Appendix 1), and Form of report for works performed  in terms of stimulating export of non – oil products of Azerbaijan origin (Appendix 2).

In addition, Appendix 1 also contains the rules for defining and regulating the payment mechanism of the part of costs paid on account of state budget as incurred from receipt by local companies of certificates and patents in the foreign countries, export – related research – development programs and projects.

There were allocated three million manats to Ministry of Economy from reserve fund of the President with a view to implementing support measures provided for in the Rules.

Producers of non – oil products will be able to benefit from these support measures when exporting products. However the legal entities that produce mineral fuel, oil products, bitumen – containing substances, mineral waxes, and that are in government possession or whose share control belongs to the government will not be able to benefit from these preferences.

Ministry of Economy will organize a competition in order to identify the exporters to participate in the support measures. The support amount shall be paid in non –cash form to the exporters selected based on the competition.

Decree also contains the rules for implementation of each support program provided for. That is, Ministry shall determine the date of mission and foreign countries to be visited in order to organize export mission and this information shall be posted in the official web site of the ministry.  

In this case, there will be taken into account the economic and trade relations of the country, export potential of non –oil products, requests from exporters, and each mission shall be for a term of four days and the number of experts shall not exceed twenty. The number of the visits organized within a calendar year should not exceed ten.

Ministry will provide accommodation in hotel, transport, translation service and lease of the meeting venues for the exporters during mission.

Another measure provided for in the Rules is related to investigation of the foreign markets. To this end, Ministry will enter into a contract with the local and foreign legal entities selected based on competition and they shall carry out investigations as per the order of the exporters. The