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Baku. Vugar Mustafayev-APA-Economics. Regulatory reforms are gaining momentum worldwide, reaching record numbers this year, finds Doing Business 2009—the sixth in a series of annual reports published by IFC and the World Bank. The new report identifies 239 reforms between June 2007 and June 2008 that make it easier to do business in 113 economies.
Doing Business ranks economies based on 10 indicators of business regulation that record the time and cost to meet government requirements in starting and operating a business, trading across borders, paying taxes, and closing a business.
Azerbaijan is this year’s top reformer, with the most regulatory reforms, according to the report.
Azerbaijan achieved an unmatched jump up in its rank in Doing Business 2009, compared to Doing Business 2008.
APA-Economics interviewed Azerbaijan’s Minister of Economic Development Heydar Babayev about this achievement and the expected results of the new higher rank in the report.

-Mr. Minister, compared to last year, Azerbaijan ranked higher in 7 of 10 indicators of business regulation according to this year’s report. As we see, Azerbaijan is this year’s top reformer among 10 reformers. Because Azerbaijan President set the Ministry of Economic Development as the main coordinator in improvement of the country’s ratings, could you please comment on this achievement in detail?

-First of all, on this achievement I would like to congratulate every citizen of Azerbaijan and You as a representative of one of media outlets that broke this good news to the public. In fact, we believed that Azerbaijan will get good achievement in Doing Business 2009 that is based on the results of this year. This new become very important for us when Azerbaijan was rated this year’s leading reformer in accordance with 10 indicators of business regulation. Because Doing Business annual reports, published by IFC and the World Bank, are considered as the most credible rating internationally, this result is of great importance for us. If you remember, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev met with Simeon Djankov, manager and co-author of the Doing Business series, in February, 2007 and gave instructions to relevant government bodies on the improvement of Azerbaijan’s rating. The Ministry of Economic Development was identified as the main implementer and coordinator of these instructions. As early as 2004, Doing Business included 5 indicators, and 2 indicators were added in 2005 and 3 added in 2006. This report is an analysis of business environment and reforms in comparison. This year’s report ranked 181 economies, compared to 178 last year. By the order of Azerbaijani President, comprehensive measures to develop the non-oil sector in the country have been further strengthened after the last year’s report. Azerbaijan jumped to 33 on the list from 97 last year. In terms of this progress, Azerbaijan left all countries behind. I would also underscore that such a jump was not been seen in the Doing Business series ever.

-In which indicators of business regulation, Azerbaijan ranked higher in Doing Business -2009 and what could you attribute this achievement to?

First, I would like to note that this remarkable improvement was achieved as a result of the successful economic policy pursued by the head of state. I mean, Azerbaijan’s economy mostly depended on oil-gas sector historically while Azerbaijan is focusing attention on the non-oil economy. Recent presidential decrees and orders and also bills and decisions adopted in the country are targeted at the development of non-oil sector. All these steps are intended for the minimization of dependence on oil sector and the acceleration of private sector growth. Private sector accounted for 84% of GDP and this ratio will keep going up by this year-end. Azerbaijan ranked higher in 7 of 10 indicators of business regulation according to this year’s report.

Table 1

  Indicators	  DB-2008	  DB-2009
  Doing Business (Total)	  96	  33
  Starting a Business	  64	  13
  Dealing with Construction Permits	  159	  155
  Employing Workers	  80	  15
  Registering Property	  56	  9
  Getting Credit	  26	  12
  Protecting Investors	  107	  18
  Paying Taxes	  141	  102
  Trading Across Borders	  173	  174
  Enforcing Contracts	  30	  26
  Closing a Business	  75	  81

- Besides, work is under way to get further improvement on the indicator of Dealing with Construction Permits. The Government of Azerbaijan has started to improve the legal framework for this sector and I think Azerbaijan will rank higher on this indicator next year. The Ministry of Economic Development and Ministry of Emergency Situations have developed “Draft Regulations on Dealing with Construction and reconstruction Permits and Final Acceptance of Constructions. I have to say that the number of procedures for construction permits and final acceptance will be reduced to 12 from 31 and the procedures will takes 124 days, as opposed to 207 after the regulations are approved. Also, one point is that when Azerbaijan ranked the 97th among 178 countries last year, other CIS states – Tajikistan ranked 153rd, Ukraine 139th, Belarus 110th, Russia 106th, Moldova 92nd, Armenia 39th and Georgia 18th. Azerbaijan’s achieving the top reformer this year is the most objective assessment of the reforms and works done here. As a result, Azerbaijan left behind most former USSR states, including Russia, Ukraine, Kazakhstan, Armenia etc. and even some developed countries (Table 2)
The indicators on which our country made good improvement are Starting a Business, Employing Workers, Registering Property, Getting Credit, Protecting Investors, Paying Taxes and Enforcing Contracts. This jump achieved (63 ranks! – APA) is just unmatched.

-Which measures do you think helped to achieve improvement on these indicators separately?

- First, I would begin with the indicator of Starting a Business that records the time, procedures and cost to meet government requirements in starting and operating a business. In order to simplify business start-up procedures and the time for the these procedures, the head of state issued a decree “Some Measures related to the development of Business in the Republic of Azerbaijan on April 30, 2007 that instructed the Cabinet to prepare proposals on transition to a single window for business registration. So as to implement the decree, on the initiative of the Ministry of Economic Development, a workgroup was set up with representatives from the Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Taxes, Ministry of Labor and Special Protection, State Social Protection Fund and State Statistical Committee. With support from IFC experts, we learned international know-how and prepared proposals. As a result, Azerbaijani President signed a decree on October 25, 2007 to launch the single window for business registration effective January 1, 2008 and the Ministry of taxes was set as the one-stop registration body. The one-stop shop for business start-up reduced the time for registration to 3 days. The number of procedures was reduced to 6 from 13. As a result, business registrations increased by 40 percent in the first six months of its operation. Also, Azerbaijan can be considered a leading country for the period within which the single window system was launched. While most countries do this in 8-12 months, we achieved within two months- preparation was made during November-December last year.
Our country also got higher rank in Paying Taxes because of simplified tax payment system, strengthening of tax administration, introduction of e-payment etc.

-Azerbaijan achieved the highest rise in Protecting Investors. What do you think is the reason?

- True, Azerbaijan jumped to 18 in this category from 107 last year. Investor protection includes following points such as transparency in transactions, liability for Self Dealing, and Investor protection index. In order to improve on this indicator, the Ministry of Economic Development and the State Committee for Securities submitted a package of proposals to parliament. On the absis of these proposals, amendments were made to the Civil Code in May and the main objective of the changes was to set rules for a legal entity’s liability before investors and shareholders for the board’s behavior and faults in management and the publication of information about transactions, agreements and deals between an open stock company and a person related to this company. I would like to add that Azerbaijan achieved the highest advancement in Registering Property and jumped from 9 to 56 in ranking. This category shows property registration ease and the time, cost and the procedures required for registration. Procedures for registration were simplified and the time for property registration was reduced as a result of activities done by the Ministry and the State Real Estate Registry Service. Besides, thanks to work done by the National Bank of Azerbaijan, the availability of credit information was improved and Azerbaijan ranked 12th for Getting Credit. This indicator includes the legal rights of borrowers and lenders and the sharing of credit information, accessibility of credit information and transparency.

Mr. Minister, What are your expectations from next Doing Business reports?

- I would like to mention once more that the economic course determined by the President of Azerbaijan is based on non-oil sector, especially the development of business. In this regard, the ongoing successful reforms create a strong potential for achieving great success. Yet, many reforms and activities are under preparation. I am sure that we will see Azerbaijan more advanced in Doing Business-2010.


Table 2

  Countries  Â	  2009Â	  2008  Â
SingaporeÂ	1Â	1Â
New ZelandÂ	2Â	2Â
United StatesÂ	3Â	3Â
Hong Kong, ChinaÂ	4Â	4Â
DenmarkÂ	5Â	5Â
United KingdomÂ	6Â	6Â
IrelandÂ	7Â	7Â
CanadaÂ	8Â	8Â
AustraliaÂ	9Â	10Â
NorwayÂ	10Â	9Â
IcelandÂ	11Â	11Â
JapanÂ	12Â	12Â
ThailandÂ	13Â	19Â
FinlandÂ	14Â	13Â
GeorgiaÂ	15Â	21Â
Saudi ArabaÂ	16Â	24Â
SwedenÂ	17Â	14Â
BahrainÂ	18Â	17Â
BelgiumÂ	19Â	16Â
MalaysiaÂ	20Â	25Â
SwitzerlandÂ	21Â	15Â
EstoniaÂ	22Â	18Â
KoreaÂ	23Â	22Â
MauritiusÂ	24Â	29Â
GermanyÂ	25Â	20Â
NetherlandsÂ	26Â	27Â
AustriaÂ	27Â	23Â
LithuaniaÂ	28Â	28Â
LatviaÂ	29Â	26Â
IsraelÂ	30Â	30Â
FranceÂ	31Â	32Â
South AfricaÂ	32Â	35Â
AZERBAIJANÂ	33Â	97Â
St. LuciaÂ	34Â	33Â
Puerto RicoÂ	35Â	31Â
SlovakiaÂ	36Â	37Â
QatarÂ	37Â	38Â
BotswanaÂ	38Â	52Â
FijiÂ	39Â	34Â
ChileÂ	40Â	36Â
HunqaryÂ	41Â	50Â
Antigua and BarbudaÂ	42Â	40Â
TongaÂ	43Â	39Â
ArmeniaÂ	44Â	41Â
BulgariaÂ	45Â	44Â
United Arab EmiratesÂ	46Â	54Â
RomaniaÂ	47Â	47Â
PortugalÂ	48Â	43Â
SpainÂ	49Â	46Â
LuxembourgÂ	50Â	45Â
NamibiaÂ	51Â	48Â
KuwaitÂ	52Â	49Â
ColombiaÂ	53Â	66Â
SloveniaÂ	54Â	64Â
Bahamas. TheÂ	55Â	51Â
MexicoÂ	56Â	42Â
OmanÂ	57Â	57Â
MongoliaÂ	58Â	55Â
TurkeyÂ	59Â	60Â
VanuatuÂ	60Â	67Â
Taiwan, ChinaÂ	61Â	58Â
PeruÂ	62Â	53Â
JamaicaÂ	63Â	62Â
SamoaÂ	64Â	56Â
ItalyÂ	65Â	59Â
St. Vincent and the GrenadinesÂ	66Â	61Â
St. Kitts and NevisÂ	67Â	63Â
Kyrgyz RepublicÂ	68Â	99Â
MaldivesÂ	69Â	68Â
KazakhstanÂ	70Â	80Â
Macedonia, former Yugoslav Republic of Â	71Â	79Â
El SalvadorÂ	72Â	77Â
TunisiaÂ	73Â	81Â
DominicaÂ	74Â	70Â
Czech RepublicÂ	75Â	65Â
PolandÂ	76Â	72Â
PakistanÂ	77Â	74Â
BelizeÂ	78Â	69Â
KiribatiÂ	79Â	75Â
Trinidad and TobagoÂ	80Â	71Â
PanamaÂ	81Â	76Â
KenyaÂ	82Â	78Â
ChinaÂ	83Â	90Â
GrenadaÂ	84Â	73Â
BelarusÂ	85Â	115Â
AlbaniaÂ	86Â	135Â
GhanaÂ	87Â	82Â
BruneiÂ	88Â	83Â
Solomon IslandsÂ	89Â	85Â
MontenegroÂ	90Â	84Â
PalauÂ	91Â	88Â
VietnamÂ	92Â	87Â
Marshall IslandsÂ	93Â	86Â
SerbiaÂ	94Â	91Â
Papua New GuineaÂ	95Â	89Â
GreeceÂ	96Â	106Â
Dominican RepubllicÂ	97Â	110Â
YemenÂ	98Â	123Â
LebanonÂ	99Â	98Â
ZambiaÂ	100Â	101Â
JordanÂ	101Â	94Â
Sri LankaÂ	102Â	103Â
MoldovaÂ	103Â	92Â
SeychellesÂ	104Â	93Â
GuyanaÂ	105Â	95Â
CroatiaÂ	106Â	107Â
NicaraguaÂ	107Â	96Â
SwazilandÂ	108Â	100Â
UruguayÂ	109Â	113Â
BangladeshÂ	110Â	104Â
UgandaÂ	111Â	105Â
GuatemalaÂ	112Â	116Â
ArgentinaÂ	113Â	102Â
EgyptÂ	114Â	125Â
ParaguayÂ	115Â	108Â
EthiopiaÂ	116Â	109Â
Costa RicaÂ	117Â	118Â
NigeriaÂ	118Â	114Â
Bosnia and HerzegovinaÂ	119Â	117Â
Russian FederationÂ	120Â	112Â
NepalÂ	121Â	111Â
IndiaÂ	122Â	120Â
LesothoÂ	123Â	119Â
BhutanÂ	124Â	122Â
BrazilÂ	125Â	126Â
MicronesiaÂ	126Â	121Â
TanzaniaÂ	127Â	124Â
MoroccoÂ	128Â	129Â
IndonesiaÂ	129Â	127Â
Gambia, TheÂ	130Â	128Â
West Bank and GazaÂ	131Â	132Â
AlgeriaÂ	132Â	130Â
HondurasÂ	133Â	134Â
MalawiÂ	134Â	131Â
CambodiaÂ	135Â	150Â
EcuadorÂ	136Â	133Â
SyriaÂ	137Â	140Â
UzbekistanÂ	138Â	145Â
RwandaÂ	139Â	148Â
PhillipinesÂ	140Â	136Â
MozambiqueÂ	141Â	139Â
IranÂ	142Â	138Â
Cape VerdeÂ	143Â	137Â
MadagascarÂ	144Â	151Â
UkraineÂ	145Â	144Â
SurinameÂ	146Â	141Â
SudanÂ	147Â	142Â
Burkina FasoÂ	148Â	164Â
SenegalÂ	149Â	168Â
BoliviaÂ	150Â	149Â
GabonÂ	151Â	143Â
IraqÂ	152Â	146Â
DjiboutiÂ	153Â	153Â
HaitiÂ	154Â	147Â
ComorosÂ	155Â	152Â
Sierra LeoneÂ	156Â	163Â
LiberiaÂ	157Â	167Â
ZimbabweÂ	158Â	154Â
TajikistanÂ	159Â	156Â
MauritaniaÂ	160Â	166Â
Cote d’lvoireÂ	161Â	155Â
AfghanistanÂ	162Â	161Â
TogoÂ	163Â	159Â
CameroonÂ	164Â	158Â
Lao PDRÂ	165Â	162Â
MaliÂ	166Â	160Â
Equatorial GuineaÂ	167Â	165Â
AngolaÂ	168Â	169Â
BeninÂ	169Â	157Â
Timor-LesteÂ	170Â	170Â
GuineaÂ	171Â	172Â
NigerÂ	172Â	171Â
EritreaÂ	173Â	173Â
VenezuelaÂ	174Â	175Â
ChadÂ	175Â	176Â
Sao Tome and PrincipeÂ	176Â	177Â
BurundiÂ	177Â	174Â
Congo, Rep.Â	178Â	178Â
Guinea-BissauÂ	179Â	179Â
Central African RepublicÂ	180Â	180Â
Congo, Dem. Rep.Â	181Â	181Â