Under the Memorandum, the parties will cooperate on joint initiatives aimed at creating a favourable business environment for entrepreneurship, enhancing the competitiveness of economic entities and raising awareness of consumer rights, and will promote cooperation in other related areas.

A meeting was held at the State Agency for Antimonopoly and Consumer Market Control under the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan with representatives of the National Confederation of Entrepreneurs (Employers) Organizations of the Republic of Azerbaijan (ASK), attended by representatives of the business community operating in industry, manufacturing, agriculture, construction, transport, logistics, communications, trade, services and other sectors.

Elnur Baghirov, Chairman of the State Agency for Antimonopoly and Consumer Market Control under the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, and Mammad Musayev, President of the National Confederation of Entrepreneurs (Employers) Organizations of the Republic of Azerbaijan, addressed the event. It was stressed that maintaining open dialogue with business entities, stimulating entrepreneurial activity, implementing joint initiatives in this area, ensuring equal conditions in market relations and promoting a competition-based economic order are strategic priorities. It was also noted that proposals are being prepared to improve the existing legislation in the areas of public procurement and consumer rights protection in line with contemporary challenges and requirements.

During the meeting, Orkhan Mammadov, Deputy Head of the Agency’s Apparatus, and Ziya Hajili, Secretary General of ASK, gave presentations on the structure and areas of activity of their respective institutions. Advisers to the Chairman of the Agency Jafar Babayev and Ilgar Hasanov then spoke, respectively, about issues arising from the implementation of the Law of the Republic of Azerbaijan “On Public Procurement” and about the work carried out to establish the technical regulation system in the country and adopt technical regulations.

The business community then put forward proposals on the commercial activities of state and public-law entities, the efficient conduct of public procurement, mechanisms for reviewing complaints in the field of procurement, and the optimization of documents relating to suppliers’ compliance and the subject matter of procurement. The possibilities for taking appropriate measures in response to these proposals were also discussed.

As part of the meeting, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed between the State Agency for Antimonopoly and Consumer Market Control under the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the National Confederation of Entrepreneurs (Employers) Organizations of the Republic of Azerbaijan.

The Memorandum aims to contribute to the sustainable development of the economy by creating a favourable business environment for entrepreneurship, enhancing the competitiveness of economic entities, raising awareness of consumer rights and implementing joint initiatives.