DECREE OF THE PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF AZERBAIJAN
On the Establishment of the Coordination Council for Transit Freight Transportation of the Republic of Azerbaijan
In recent years, a number of large-scale projects have been implemented towards increasing the transit potential of the Republic of Azerbaijan. Thus, the new Baku International Sea Trade Port—the largest port in the Caspian Basin—and the Baku Shipyard have commenced operations, while the reconstruction of the Baku–Boyuk Kesik railway and the construction of the Baku–Tbilisi–Kars railway line are currently being realized.
The construction of several international airports in Azerbaijan, the acquisition of new aircraft and vessels, and the creation of a modern road network have played an important role in strengthening our country's transport infrastructure and expanded its capabilities to participate in transit transportation.
Along with the projects implemented in the country's transport sector, it is essential to increase the competitiveness and efficiency of transit corridors passing through the territory of the Republic of Azerbaijan, and to take a series of measures aimed at attracting additional transit freight flows to these corridors, including enhancing the quality of freight transportation and reducing delivery times and transport expenses.
Guided by Clause 32 of Article 109 of the Constitution of the Republic of Azerbaijan, for the purpose of implementing a uniform, flexible, and transparent tariff policy in the field of transit freight transportation by railways, sea transport, sea ports, and sea terminals in the Republic of Azerbaijan, simplifying border-crossing procedures and transportation processes, as well as ensuring coordination among the state bodies operating in this field, I decree:
1. The Coordination Council for Transit Freight Transportation of the Republic of Azerbaijan shall be established.
2. The "Regulations on the Coordination Council for Transit Freight Transportation of the Republic of Azerbaijan" shall be approved (attached).
3. The "Composition of the Coordination Council for Transit Freight Transportation of the Republic of Azerbaijan" shall be approved (attached).
4. The "single window" principle shall be applied to the transportation of transit freight through the territory of the Republic of Azerbaijan by railways, sea transport, sea ports, and sea terminals.
5. The execution of the powers of a single state body on the application of the "single window" principle in the transportation of transit freight through the territory of the Republic of Azerbaijan by railways, sea transport, sea ports, and sea terminals shall be entrusted to the Coordination Council for Transit Freight Transportation of the Republic of Azerbaijan.
6. The Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Azerbaijan shall:
6.1. Prepare and submit to the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, within three months, proposals regarding the alignment of acts of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan with this Decree;
6.2. Ensure the alignment of normative legal acts of the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Azerbaijan with this Decree within three months and inform the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan thereof;
6.3. Monitor the alignment of normative legal acts of central executive bodies with this Decree and inform the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan on the execution thereof within five months;
6.4. Resolve other matters arising from this Decree.
7. The Ministry of Economy and Industry of the Republic of Azerbaijan shall:
7.1. Prepare and submit to the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, within two months, the procedure for determining the tariffs and discounts on such tariffs for transit freight transportation services by railways and sea transport, as well as for the operation of port facilities related to transit freight, cargo handling, and other services rendered at sea ports;
7.2. Together with the Coordination Council for Transit Freight Transportation of the Republic of Azerbaijan, ensure the creation of an electronic portal reflecting uniform freight transportation tariffs, border-crossing procedures, rules and conditions of transportation (including contract terms and procedures for their execution), capabilities for accepting electronic applications regarding administrative procedures when crossing the state border of the Republic of Azerbaijan, electronic execution of freight transportation contracts, cargo tracking, and other matters related to transportation processes.
8. The Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Azerbaijan shall ensure the alignment of normative legal acts and normative-character acts of central executive bodies with this Decree and inform the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Azerbaijan thereof.
9. It shall be established that the organization of current activities of the Coordination Council for Transit Freight Transportation of the Republic of Azerbaijan shall be carried out by the Secretariat of the said Coordination Council.
10. The Coordination Council for Transit Freight Transportation of the Republic of Azerbaijan shall ensure the submission of information to the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan twice a year regarding the work performed in the field of transit freight transportation by railways, sea transport, sea ports, and sea terminals in the Republic of Azerbaijan.
Ilham ALIYEV
President of the Republic of Azerbaijan
Baku City, October 21, 2015
No. 655