Azerbaijan, which historically occupies an important place in foreign trade and, through the territory of which the silk roads passed, still has unlimited strategic opportunities for regional and international business to 50 countries, covering 50% of the world’s consumers.

• Free introduction to the markets of the CIS and Georgia with 270 million consumers and 1.6 billion
• A rare opportunity to enter the markets of Iran, Iraq, Afghanistan
• A significant transit center, through which the East-West, South-North, South-West transit routes pass

Successful stories 

http://www.azpromo.az/about-us/success-stories 

Reasons to invest

1.DEVELOPED INFRASTRUCTURE

•  5 international airports
•  Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway (Iron Silk Road)
•  10 – 11.5 million tons of cargo in the new “Baku International Commercial Sea Port” (it will be increased to 21-25 million tons)
•  Cargo transportation by TRACECA corridor increased by 1.3 times

2.Human capital

• 8 M Labor force
• 33 Labor market efficiency
• 95% employment rate 4th in CIS
• 74% Employment In private sector
• Around 30.000 students graduate from higher education institutions annually
• More than 3500 graduates of about 370 leading universities under “State Program on Education of Azerbaijani Youth Abroad”

3. FDI FRIENDLY POLICY STANDS BY INVESTORS

• 7 Starting a Business
• 22 Property Registration
• 34 Tax Payment
• 40 Investor Protection
• 36 Investor protection

4.EVER IMPROVING REFORMIST BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT…

• Equal rights and opportunities for all investors
• Strong investor protection policy and legislation; guarantees against adverse changes in the legislation, nationalization, requisition
• Compensation for damages and loss
• Repatriation of profits ensured
• Low regulatory burden
• Limited price control
• Over 450 e-services for businesses (e-registration, e-taxation, e-licensing, e-trade, e-intellectual property, e-payment)
• Competitive tax regime (corporate tax-20%, VAT-18%, Simplified tax-2% or 4%, personal income tax – 14 to 25%, WHT – 10%) and tax holidays
• 51 Double Taxation Treaties
• 47 Bilateral Investment Treaties

5. 10 “NO” TO SUPPORT INVESTMENT CLIMATE

• 1 No state inspections(excluding tax, human health and state security reasons)
• 2 No discrimination between foreign and domestic investors
• 3 No prior authorisation requirement for foreign investment
• 4 No licensing for currency operations involving the movement of capital
• 5 No foreign exchange restrictions
• 6 No limits on the amount of foreign capital in companies
• 7 No technology transfer restrictions
• 8 No legal limitation on ownership
• 9 No restrictions on repatriation of profits
• 10 No local counterpart requirement

6.STIMULATIVE INCENTIVE PROGRAMS REPRESENT INVESTMENT FACILITATION STRATEGY

Holders of Investment Promotion Document (IPD) and residents of Industrial 7 years Technology Parks enjoy dramatically reduced rates

IPD Holders

• 50% reduced corporate tax
• 0% VAT on imported machinery, technological equipment and installations
• 0% customs duty on imported machinery, technological equipment and installations
• 0% land tax
• 0% property tax

Residents of Parks

• 0% corporate tax
• 0% VAT on imported machinery, technological equipment and installations
• 0% customs duty on imported machinery, technological equipment and installations
• 0% land tax
• 0% property tax

7.STREAMLINED PROCEDURES FOR BUSINESS SETUP…

• 2 business days for business registration
• Streamlined licensing system;10 business days for getting your lifelong license
• “One-stop-shop” (ASAN Service) system for: business registration, customs, construction permits and licensing

8.WELCOMING TRADE REGIME…

• A single-window system for inspection of goods and vehicles crossing borders Inspection of transported goods, certificates and other documents
• “E-customs” for a number of services, including e-declaration
• No export duties
• Green Channel System: Automated digital information system determines type of customs entry channel:

• Green – no physical examination
• Blue – customs control
• Yellow – a thorough examination of documents, goods, vehicles
• Red – examination of documents, goods, vehicles and persons

Free Trade Agreements with Russia, Ukraine, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Moldova and Belarus

Sector Opportunities

1.IT

The first telecommunication satellite “Azerspace-1” was launched in 2013 and will provide Internet coverage Azerbaijan, Central Asia, Europe and Africa region for 15 years period.

The next “Azerspace-2” satellite will be launched in 2017 and realize digital broadcasting, Internet access, data transfer and multi-service network.

IT is the most dynamic developing sector among non-oil spheres by its increasing yields.

• 58th due to IT development among 139 countries
• 53rd due to IT services
• 1.6 bln. AZN IT services volume
• 27 thousands Labour power
• + 2 bln. $ Investment since 2010
• 2%In Gross Domestic Product (GDP)

2.Agriculture and Food Industry.

• 4.8 8 mln. Ha Grand area suitable for agriculture
• 7.3% In GDP
• 37% active labour power
• 38% of food in production industry
• 1326 mln. $. Investment to food industry in 2003-2015

Agriculture subsectors:

• Gardening (fruit and vegetables)
• Sugar growing
• Viticulture
• Tobacco growing
• Hazel nuts growing
• Heyvandarlıq
• Tea growing
• Fish growing
• Beekeeping

For development of these sectors the government applies many benefits.

• Sale and rent of agriculture equipment with 50% discount
• 50% payment of water injection equipment cost
• Sale and renting of breeding cattle with 50% discount
• Grants for corn growers
• Sale of mineral fertilizers in favorable terms
• 50% payment of insurable value
• Grants for motor oils and fuel used in cultivated area
• “Tax holidays”
• Exemption from VAT and customs duty

3.Chemical Industry

• 3.4 bln. AZN Production volume
• 600mln. investment in 2003-2015
• 1 bln. $ Product export volume in 2015

To provide the speedy progress in IT sphere, Sumgayit Chemical Industry Park put in commission. The park will be supplied with all kinds of infrastructure eventually and offer the residents available terms and tax benefits.

Major products

• Benzene
• Diesel fuel
• Lubricant oils
• Ethylene
• Polyethylene
• Propylene
• Bitumen
• Colorants
• Barium sulphide

4.Machinery Industry

The major strategic goal in machinery development is the import substitution. The greatest number of labour power among production industries is engaged here.

• 670 mln. $ Investment in 2003-2015
• 14.6 thousand Labour power
• 198.8 mln. AZN Production volume

Major subsectors

• Different machine parts manufacture
• Agricultural machines
• Auto-devices manufacture
• Electric engineering
• Shipbuilding
• Radio and automatic control engineering

Major products

• Different size ships
• Agricultural equipment, lorries
• Various commercial vehicles
• Electrical engines
• Oil separation equipment

5.Tourism

Being located at the coast of the Caspian Sea and Caucasus Mountains, Azerbaijan has a favourable position and attracts tourists with its hospitality, cultural and historical heritage, rich cuisine and religious tolerance.

• Due to the tourism competitiveness among 141 countries 84th
• Due to the tourism growth in East Europe 2nd
• Due to the human resources, labour market and safety 36th
• Due to the health and hygiene 44th
• Due to IT 52nd
• Due to tourism significance 58th
• Due to the cost competitiveness in the sector 65th

Tourism subsections

• Cultural heritage and tourism
• Relax tourism
• Business tourism
• Eco-truism
• Religious tourism
• Sport and leisure tourism