OSCE Office gathers entrepreneurs and authorities to discuss business regulatory framework

GANJA, Azerbaijan, 13 April 2011 – The OSCE Office in Baku and the Education for Human Rights Public Union are holding today an information session on the regulatory framework for the corporate sector in Ganja, the second largest city of Azerbaijan.

The event aims to raise awareness of problems and possible solutions, help entrepreneurs operate their businesses more efficiently, as well as to identify priorities for reform in this field. The participants will discuss tax, labour and custom regulations; administrative-economic court procedures; and the current challenges small and medium-sized enterprises face, such as illegal on-site inspections.

“Entrepreneurs need transparent and predictable rules for taxes, labour and customs procedures to further develop their businesses and contribute to job creation in the non-oil sector,” the Head of Economic and Environmental Unit of the OSCE Office in Baku, Jan Olsson, said in his opening speech. “By supporting this forum, we hope to further enhance the dialogue between entrepreneurs and authorities on how to reduce barriers to business and investment and increase access to justice for small and medium-sized enterprises.”

Representatives of relevant state agencies, including the Ministries of Taxation and Economic Development, the State Customs Committee, the State Traffic Police, Ganja’s Administration and the Environmental Health Institution, as well as entrepreneurs, are participating in the event.

The OSCE Office in Baku supports Legal Advice Centres in Baku and in Shaki, a northern city of Azerbaijan. These centers provide legal advice free-of-charge for entrepreneurs through both a newly established hotline and individual consultations in the Centres’ offices.

The OSCE Office also plans to conduct seminars in other regions of Azerbaijan to increase entrepreneurs’ knowledge of relevant legislation and regulations, and to raise the authorities’ awareness of challenges entrepreneurs are facing. In addition, the Office will organize public outreach activities and information sessions to promote good economic governance.