EBRD EXPANSES ITS MISSION IN THE CASPIAN REGION
With the aim of new investments bringing into oil sector of Azerbaijan the Caspian Integration Business Club (CIBC) began to pay more attention to qualitative problems of business conducting, formation of bilateral relations with the representatives of international finance institutes and state officials.
Within the frame of the Club, in the current year were organized the meetings of businessmen with chief of representative of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development in Azerbaijan Raymond Convey and general director of State Agency of the Republic of Azerbaijan on Standardization, Metrology and Patent Ms. Khalida Masimova.
Efforts in vain
The special attention, at the second congress of the Caspian Finance, Banking & Insurance Club held (on February 10, International press center) within the frame of CIBC has been paid to perspectives of local business cooperation with European Bank for Reconstruction and Development. The meeting was held under the chairmanship of the president of the Caspian Finance, Banking & Insurance Club and the chairmanship of Supervisory Board of "Rabitabank" Zakir Nuriyev, and co-president of the Caspian Finance, Banking & Insurance Club, general director of Insurance Company Most Insurance Kamal Ibrahimov.
CIBC plans this year to realize the meeting with state officials and famous businessmen as in Azerbaijan so as in Russia and Kazakhstan, declared the president and executive director of CIBC Telman Aliyev.
Within meeting with the representative of the Caspian Finance, Banking & Insurance Club, chief representative of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development in Azerbaijan Mr. Raymond Convey told about EBRD mission in Azerbaijan and its plans to 2005.
R. Convey declared that EBRD granted the credits to Azerbaijan at $300 mln. in 2004. These facilities were granted within the frame of 4 projects on 80 signed contracts. From the total sum of credits approximately $200 mln directed to oil and gas sector of the country. EBRD facilities have also been directed to agricultural sector of Azerbaijan, the credits granted on the base of signed agreements with 4 local banks to development of little and medium entrepreneur (LME). Moreover, there was signed an agreement with government on financing of construction of highway Kurdamir - Hajigabul.
Important event of last year, Mr. Convey called the participation of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev in London conference "Trade and investments" organized by EBRD in December 2004.
"I think that EBRD mission in Azerbaijan will be more successful in 2005", stated R. Convey, - "Taking into consideration the EBRD rating, the management of bank has not already interested the successes in 2004. And they are interested in future successes, in 2005".
According to R. Convey, there is some difference between 2005 and 2004. EBRD main goal will be concluded in reducing of Azerbaijan dependence from oil sector. To 2005, EBRD considers the three projects. The aims of these projects are consisting from improvement of economy infrastructure for business carrying out in the region of country. The first project connects with construction of highway, the second with railway project, and the third with energy project. EBRD also ready to pay attention to agricultural projects and projects in bank sector. At the present time, EBRD is interested in increasing of Azerbaijan banks' capital. In 2005, EBRD plans to continue the participation in oil and gas sector of the country, but it will be less active than in 2004.
R. Convey noted three very important aspects, which EBRD is going to get in Azerbaijan. First of all, EBRD will aspire to render the supporting in taking down of barriers for development of business in the region of country. One of the barriers, Convey thinks that is corruption. He expressed his satisfaction by activities of the government directed to creation of some structures on struggle with corruption. The second, EBRD aspires to improvement of managing climate in the country, in particular it regards the process of business and its management construction. The third, EBRD is interested in principal "supremacy of laws". At the same time, he guesses the important of laws functioning, their effectiveness and justice.
It is interesting that chief of EBRD representative expressed his anxiety by low level of competition in bank sector. "If bank sector of Azerbaijan do not dynamically develop then the state will not be able to achieve its goals in the region", - said financier. For achievement of aims EBRD directed its efforts in the nearest three years.
At present, EBRD prepared for Azerbaijan the project of development strategy for 2-3 years, beginning from 2005. The program includes all problems with which EBRD is facing within operation in Azerbaijan.
R. Convey invited to meeting the members of the Caspian Finance, Banking & Insurance Club and other representatives of business holding in Belgrade on May dedicated to the results of 2004. At the result meeting will also be organized the business - forum where will be taking part the businessmen from the whole world. At the conference, the president of the Finance, Banking & Insurance Club Zakir Nuriyev offered to R. Convey the possibility of EBRD participation in development of banking infrastructure of Azerbaijan. R. Convey supported this idea.
Constructive dialogue
Within the bounds of other conference, within the frame of CIBC (on March 4) were discussed the perspectives of cooperation between Caspian Construction & Furniture Club members with general director of State Agency of the Republic of Azerbaijan on Standardization, Metrology and Patent Mr. Khalida Masimova. At the meeting held under the chairmanship of the president of the Caspian Construction & Furniture Club Uwe Kokhler which is also the chairman of the board of directors of "Garadag-Cement" participated the managers of CIBC company.
Caspian Integration Business Club (CIBC) is the largest and dynamically developing organization, which unites 100 companies and organizations from 30 countries of the world implementing its mission (or having the intention) in the territory of states of the Caspian and Black Sea.
CIBC was established in 2002 by initiative of the largest international companies and International Publishing House Caspian Energy.
2002, the honourable chairman of CIBC is the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Mr. Ilham Heydar ogli Aliyev (at that time, the first vice-president of SOCAR).
At that moment by company manager declared the Caspian Business Alliance Ltd. for organization of Club's operation. CIBC headquarters is in Baku, which is single coast capital of state in the Caspian region.
There is functioned in the staff of Club the following similar associations on branch figure: Caspian Energy, Petroleum, Gas & Service CLUB, Caspian IT & Communication Club, Caspian Construction & Furniture Club, Caspian Finance, Banking & Insurance Club, Caspian Transport Club, Caspian Auto (Sport & Business) Club, Caspian Agriculture Club.
The president and chief executive director of CIBC Telman Aliyev reminded that serving in the Caspian and Black Sea region As a result, within three years there were attracted approximately 100 companies to Club. Today, there is included to Club constructions, furniture, oils, services, banking, insurance, telecommunication and other companies and on the base of their initiative within the frame had been founded branch clubs.
T. Aliyev made known businessmen that, this year International business - award "Caspian Energy Integration Award" was founded in 2002 by the Caspian Integration Business Club and International Publishing House Caspian Energy and it will be presented to winners at the solemn ceremony, approximately in day of independence on May 28, 2005. According to T. Aliyev, earlier CIBC declared only state officials, businessmen, winners of prize.
Further during the conference held constructive dialogue on problems in the sphere of standardization within the import-export operations, constructions and other business spheres. In particular, Kh. Masimova informed that headed by her Agency would enlarge the daily works with companies within the frame of CIBC. According to her, "today, we cannot take into account the main role of such Clubs for economy of the Republic".
State Agency was established in August 2002 by national leader of the Republic of Azerbaijan Heydar Aliyev. Differing from others State Agency had been given the operation of patenting in Azerbaijan. It means that there were created the conditions of free control mechanism after processing processes from the moment of their formation till receiving of ready production.
According to Masimova, the creation of such kind of mechanism should not accept as interference in processing process of the enterprises. In reality, this is a form of controlling after quality of manufacturing production. Both local and foreign companies agreed that important term of processing is saving of requirement of standards. In this connection, there have already used in Azerbaijan the working experience in business of other companies. In particular, there functioned in Azerbaijan the laboratories founded mutually with British Institutes of Standards, 90% of International and European standards which had already used in practice and it could get make of respective staff.
At the meeting Kh. Masimova cleared the matters of appropriate standards of goods within import-export operations. With these problems are often faced the company-members of CIBC and it noted by representatives of construction company Behrud and AZEL. According to Kh. Masimova, within import of goods its certificate should be submitted to State Agency for its origin. Under necessity, if we talk about CIS countries the State Agency will be able to make an examination of imported goods. Export of local business is appreciated, said Kh. Masimova. "We are ready to make an assistance in receiving of certificates on behalf of the international institutes for goods exporting possibility to country", - she said.
According to her, to confirming at the State Agency are to be the international certificates, in particular ISO. It depends from that the same standards using in Baltic is unable to use in the Caspian Sea. It concerns to oil and service companies. Unfortunately, Kh. Masimova stated that similar situation with certification forms in finance sector.
Kh. Masimova assured CIBC members in readiness of rendering of necessity supporting with the aim of local business undertakings' development and declared that State Agency operation will continue in the purpose of reaching of Azerbaijan standards of international levels.