The Economic Policy, Industries and Enterprising Committee held its first meeting of the spring parliamentary session of the current year on 21 January.

Opening the meeting, the committee chairman Tahir Mirkishili told the assembly of the agenda and proceeded to table Item I, being the 2021 autumn session performance report of the committee. The economic achievements of 2021 were comprehensive enough, on the whole; the overall economic growth and that in the non-oil industrial sector had reached 5.6 per cent and exceeded 20 per cent respectively, according to the committee chairman. Also, and for the first time, the value of Azerbaijan’s non-oil exports had approached USD 2.7 bn. The annual projections of the State Budget had been exceeded by roughly AZN 1.5 bn. At the same time, and, again, for the first time, the Azerbaijani gas had begun to be exported to the European markets. Next, the reintegration of the de-occupied provinces with the national economy had begun. Other important economic shifts and occurrences had taken part during 2021 as well, Mr Mirkishili told the colleagues.

Mr Mirkishili brought to the attention of the MPs that the committee had held 16 meetings to consider 133 issues in the reported period. Amongst them were the draft amendments to the Customs Tariff Law, the State Duty Law and the Cashless Settlements Law as well as to the Tax and Customs Codes. Besides, there was the Tourism Law and several other documents. There were the thorough discussions of the 2022 State Budget and of the draft laws in the Budgetary Package; all those were enacted at a plenum of the Milli Majlis eventually. Government officials and representatives of non-governmental organisations were taking part in the committee meetings; their opinions and suggestions were heard duly. The committee members were making press appearances on various subjects and were actively contributing to the work of a number of international institutions.

The appeals and complaints from citizens reached 59; they were all forwarded to the appropriate agencies and departments for consideration and subsequent action.

Next, the performance report was followed by the committee work plan for the 2022 spring session. Mr Mirkishili mentioned the earmarked preparation of several draft laws including the Pawnbroker’s Offices Bill and the Assessment Practice Bill. The work plan also includes consideration of the Bills that are to be submitted by way of legislative initiatives and of draft amendments to the laws already in effects. It is intended to hold several meetings with business people and representatives of NGOs. There will be public hearings, too.

The draft amendments to the Law ‘On the Suspension of Business Enterprise Checks’ were tabled as Item 3 on the agenda of the committee meeting. The draft was said to envisage the extension till 1 January 2023 of the relevant moratorium that had been in effect until 1 January 2022.

The deputy chairman of the committee Ali Masimli and the MPs Vahid Ahmadov, Vugar Bayramov, Mazahir Efendiyev and Aydin Huseynov responded to the agenda items. They also commented on the economic affairs in general and made known their thoughts and suggestions regarding several issues du jour.

Ultimately, the meeting participants endorsed the 2021 autumn session performance report, approved the 2022 spring session work plan and recommended that the aforementioned amendments should be brought before the Milli Majlis at a plenary sitting.

The other committee members Mahir Abbaszade, Imamverdi Ismayilov, Rufat Guliyev, Anar Mammadov, Igbal Mammadov, Mashhur Mammadov and Agalar Valiyev took part in the meeting as well.

The Press and Public Relations Department

The Milli Majlis