1. Farid Isayev, director, KPMG in Azerbaijan Brussels — 20 October 2016
Overview of latest legislative-economic initiatives and tourism strategy of Azerbaijan
Farid Isayev, director, KPMG in Azerbaijan
Brussels —
20 October 2016

2. Legislative- economic
initiatives

3. Milestones in nutshell
November 2015, Ban on state audits/inspections
January 2016, Investment Promotion Programme
February 2016, creation of Financial Markets Supervision Chamber
March 2016, Establishment of Baku Free Economic Zone under the Baku Sea Trade Port (UAE’s Jebel Ali model)
March 2016, BOT (Build-Operate-Transfer) model enacted in law
June 2016, Law “On Agricultural Cooperatives”
August 2016, Directions for tax reforms approved

4. Tourism strategy

5. Dynamics of tourism sector
Advantages:
Role of globally recognized sporting events (Formula 1 Grand Prix, World Chess Olympiad etc)
Visa simplification (from November 2015 for UAE, from 1 February 2016 for Qatar, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Kuwait, Japan, China, South Korea, Malaysia, Singapore)
Presence of global 4 and 5 star hotel brands, improved logistics, close proximity of tourist attractions
Cheaper local currency, hence more competitive prices
Areas for improvement:
Enhancement of simplified visa regime or visa exempt countries
Establishment of lower segment of accommodation (hostels, 2* or 3* hotels)
New entries among air carriers, more competition in the sky

6. Presidential executive order #2295, dated 1 September 2016
Council of Tourism of the Republic of Azerbaijan to be established
Tourism and Leisure Strategy and implementation mechanisms to be developed
Shopping festivals to be arranged and financed
Regional tourism concepts to be developed and financed (starting with Guba-Gusar northern region)
Aviation authorities (including AZAL) tasked with determination of new attractive air routes
Tourism vocational education centers to be established
Ministry of Taxes, Ministry of Finance, State Customs Committee tasked to developed incentive programs/measures and exemption for facilitation of shopping festivals
Seaside tourism in Caspian Sea’s Azerbaijan sector to be developed further
Potential for PPP arrangements in tourism sector to be explored and proposed
Tourism representations chain, promoting Azerbaijani tourism, to be expanded
Tourism Register to be launched
National Fund For Entrepreneurship Support to provide credit facilities to local investors presenting attractive tourism projects

7. Thank you Q&A

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