Licensing Canceled for Twenty-one Activities

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev signed a decree "On some measures in the field of licensing," under which the number of items subject to compulsory licensing has been reduced from 58 to 37. The decree also updated the licensing rules, which stipulate terms for consideration and issuance of licenses.

In the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic, subject to licensing are 22 activities.

For the activities, for which the license is canceled, the Cabinet within three months has to prepare proposals to improve legislation and to ensure control over the implementation of existing requirements. The Ministry of Economy and Industry is requested to submit a bill on simplification and improvement of the additional licensing requirements. Also jointly with the State Agency for Public Services and Social Innovations (GAUNSI) it will prepare a draft Regulation on the portal of "electronic license".

Among other things, licensing has been canceled for tourism, hotels, manufacturing, import and sale of alcoholic beverages and tobacco products, customs brokers, freight and passenger transport, mapping, etc.

All licenses previously issued by state bodies are considered perpetual. Note that the previous presidential decrees granted the authority to issue licenses to the Ministry of Economy and Industry through the centers ASAN Khidmet and GAUNSI.

The Ministry of Economy also maintains the uniform register of licenses, as well as provides information on issued, suspended and eliminated licenses to the tax authorities.

The decree also provides for almost two-fold reduction in licensing fees. -----08D