Export of Medicines Grows by 3.6 Times

Azerbaijan in the first three quarters of this year exported drugs (16.3 tons) and means for medicine (40 tons), totaling $11 883 200. This is 3.6 times higher than in the whole 2013, they told Turan in the State Statistics Committee with reference to customs statistics.

The export was carried out mainly to Kyrgyzstan ($ 6,216,600) and Georgia ($ 5,117,600), as well as to Belarus ($ 100,800).

Paradoxically, the fact is that the data recorded on the production of medicines in Azerbaijan do not meet the export activity of the local pharmacological agents. According to the SSC, in the first ten months of this year, Azerbaijan produced this range of products totaling 2,764,300 manat($ 3.265 million).

Turan IA tried to have this discrepancy in figures explained at the State Statistics Committee, where they did not give any clear answer.

We can assume that local businesses to evade taxes hide the real data on volumes of the produced commodity. The tons of the goods could not be really hidden from the customs office.

According to the SSC, in Azerbaijan there are 8 legal and 5 natural persons who are engaged in the production of pharmaceuticals. In 2013, they produced goods in the amount of 3.2 million manat, which is 1.5 million AZN more than in the previous year. In constant prices the output grew by only 12.7%, calculated specialists of SSC. Compared with 2010, the value of fixed assets of these companies has tripled and amounted to the beginning of this year to 5.3 million manat.

The country's pharmaceutical companies employ 200 people, whose monthly wage is 355 manat, which is 11% more than in January-October 2013. --08B-