The Agency for the Development of Small and Medium-Sized Businesses, Investment Promotion and Export has been established

President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev signed a decree on improving management in the sphere of micro, small and medium business development, investment and export promotion, and regulating certain related issues.

As reported by BAKU.WS, the document states:

"Guided by paragraph 32 of Article 109 of the Constitution of the Republic of Azerbaijan, in order to ensure more effective and coordinated implementation of state policy in the sphere of micro, small and medium business development, investment and export promotion, I hereby decree:

1. On the basis of the public legal entity "Agency for the Development of Small and Medium Business of the Republic of Azerbaijan" and the public legal entity "Azerbaijan Export and Investment Promotion Agency - AZPROMO" subordinate to the Ministry of Economy of the Republic of Azerbaijan, to establish under the Ministry of Economy of the Republic of Azerbaijan the Agency for the Development of Small and Medium Business, Investment and Export Promotion in the Republic of Azerbaijan (hereinafter - the Agency).

2. To establish that the Agency is an institution within the structure of the Ministry of Economy of the Republic of Azerbaijan, operating in the direction of supporting the development of micro, small and medium entrepreneurship, promoting investment and exports in the non-oil (gas) sector, participating in the protection of the interests of business entities, and coordinating the services of state bodies (agencies) and entrepreneurs in this area.

3. To set the staff limit of the Agency at a total of 370 staff positions, including the staff limit of its Office at 291 staff positions and regional divisions at 79 staff positions.

4. The Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Azerbaijan shall:

4.1. prepare and submit proposals to the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan on the following issues:

4.1.1. within three months:

4.1.1.1. on the draft charter and structure of the Agency;

4.1.1.2. on the issue of improving regulatory legal acts taking into account parts 1 and 2 of this Decree;

4.1.2. within nine months:

4.1.2.1. on the mechanism for the phased implementation by private sector entities of services provided by state bodies (agencies) to micro, small and medium business entities, exporters and investors;

4.1.2.2. on the issue of improving mechanisms for promoting investment and exports in the non-oil (gas) sector;

4.2. ensure within three months the transfer to the balance sheet of the Agency of state property held on the balance sheets of the public legal entities specified in paragraph 1 of this Decree;

4.3. in accordance with the Law of the Republic of Azerbaijan "On Civil Service," take measures related to ensuring the staffing of the Agency from among the employees of the public legal entities specified in part 1 of this Decree;

4.4. resolve issues related to the financing of the Agency's activities within one month;

4.5. ensure the resolution of issues related to the material and technical support of the Agency, as well as the financing in the current year of expenses related to the execution of work provided for in subparagraph 4.1.2.2 of this Decree, within the limits of funds provided for in the state budget, and in subsequent years - provide for the corresponding funds in state budget drafts and inform the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan thereof;

4.6. resolve other issues arising from this Decree.

5. Until the charter and structure of the Agency are approved, the public legal entities specified in part 1 of this Decree shall continue their activities."