State Customs Committee, Agency for Small and Medium Entrepreneurship Development sign Memorandum of Understanding

Baku, August 8, AZERTAC The State Customs Committee and the Agency for Small and Medium Entrepreneurship Development have signed a Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation and mutual activity. Prior to the signing ceremony, Chairman of the State Customs Committee, Customs Service Lieutenant-General Safar Mehdiyev said that the reforms carried out in the customs authorities under the leadership of President Ilham Aliyev not only ensure economic security of the country, but also contribute to the improvement of entrepreneurship and development of business climate: “A new philosophy of the activities of the customs authorities is being formed, effective dialogue is being established with entrepreneurship entities, transparency is being ensured, customs procedures are being simplified and the legislation is being consistently improved.” Safar Mehdiyev said the signing of the MOU between the State Customs Committee and the Agency for Small and Medium Entrepreneurship Development is one of the important steps taken in this regard. “The goal is to organize mutual activities and take necessary measures to implement joint projects through achieving entrepreneurs` satisfaction in order to organize services, raise awareness of entrepreneurs about the rendered services, study international experience in the field of public-private sector partnership in the implementation of customs legislation, and increase the export potential of small and medium-sized businesses.” Chairman of the Board of the Agency for Small and Medium Entrepreneurship Development Orkhan Mammadov said that this event once again demonstrates the importance of cooperation between government agencies in terms of increasing the effectiveness of public services and benefiting small and medium-sized enterprises. Thanks to consistent implementation of the strategic line determined by President Ilham Aliyev and the systematic reforms implemented for this purpose, the quality of entrepreneurship-oriented public services has seen a substantial increase over the past years. This tendency is now ongoing and the challenges of the modern age, including the implementation of entrepreneurship services on the basis of efficiency, transparency, politeness and responsibility, condition collaboration.” Orkhan Mammadov noted that joint efforts will be made to support the development of small and medium-sized enterprises, adding that close cooperation will be established with relevant public bodies: “It is remarkable that the Agency for Small and Medium Entrepreneurship Development signs the first Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation and mutual activity with the State Customs Committee. Apart from reflecting the directions, forms and mechanisms of mutual activity, the MOU will also pave the way for a more transparent implementation of foreign economic activity of entrepreneurs, and small and medium-sized businesses will receive better quality services without any loss of time.” The Memorandum of Understanding was signed by Chairman of the State Customs Committee Safar Mehdiyev and Chairman of the Agency for Small and Medium Entrepreneurship Development Orkhan Mammadov.