Baku, April 9, AZERTAC

Keys aspects of migration policy of Azerbaijan have been discussed at the business forum organized by the Caspian European Club and attended by head of the State Migration Service of the Republic of Azerbaijan Firudin Nabiyev.

Addressing the business forum, Head of the State Migration Service Firudin Nabiyev noted an active role of the Caspian European Club, which brought together 5000 companies from 50 countries of the world, in establishing the business-to-government dialogue which enables to set much closer cooperation between the government agencies and private sector.

Speaking at the forum, Firudin Nabiyev presented information about the activity of the State Migration Service of the Republic of Azerbaijan. According to him, the State Migration Service was created on March 19, 2007 to facilitate registration of individuals who wish to live and work in Azerbaijan.

He emphasized that creation of the service laid a basis for registration of foreign people on basis of the “single window” principle. The State Migration Service builds a dialogue with business, analyzes issues that get entrepreneurs concerned, raises these issues at the government and make changes into the legislation in case of necessity.

Owing to the economic development and stability, the number of migrants in Azerbaijan is growing, so is the number of businessmen investing in the country. It means that Azerbaijan is not a source of the workforce but its consumer.

Firudin Nabiyev emphasized that issues that are of interest to business were reflected in the Migration code adopted by Milli Majlis in 2013. “Nevertheless, we keep making changes associated with the time we live in”, he said and noted that it would be much simpler to work in Azerbaijan after adoption of new changes in the legislation of Azerbaijan.

Nabiyev also noted that the “number of problems concerning the registration is reducing day by day. At the same time, the number of those who apply for registration is growing”.

He emphasized that the State Migration Service makes registration of foreigners according to the place of residence. According to recent changes made in the legislation, foreigners who arrive in the country must apply for registration within 10 days but not 3 days as it was before.

Foreigners who enter in Azerbaijan are provided information about registration in the three languages - Azerbaijani, Russian and English.

People, who arrive in the country for a temporary stay and invest 500,000 AZN, get a three-year permission. Those who have funds to the sum of 100,000 AZN in Azerbaijani banks are provided with a one-year permission. Foreigners who build family relationships with citizens of Azerbaijan can live and work in the country after passing a corresponding registration.

He also touched on the issue of quotas of migrants. According to him, GMS holds a poll among entrepreneurs with respect to the need for foreign specialists and submits its proposals to the government. On average, the quota in Azerbaijan makes about 12,000 workers per year.

“We raise an issue which concerns the employment of our citizens first. We invite foreign specialists if there no appropriate specialists in Azerbaijan”, he emphasized.

Discussed during the meeting were the business-forum participants’ proposals on this topic as well as issues that are of interest to the companies of the Caspian European Club.

Addressing the business forum, Chief Executive Officer of the Caspian European Club Telman Aliyev thanked Firudin Nabiyev for a constructive dialogue as well as for addressing of proposals and requests made by the members of the Caspian European Club during the event.

According to him, companies obtained answers to questions they had, discussed ways of solution of problems associated with the migration policy of Azerbaijan as well as proposals for continuing an active dialogue between business and State Migration Service.

He said the Caspian European Club was established in June 2002 with active participation of Caspian Energy International Media Group and under support of the largest oil and gas companies working in the Caspian and Black Sea region. His Excellency President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev is the Chairman of the Caspian European Club. According to Telman Aliyev, the Caspian European Club has promoted attraction of oil sector revenues into development of the non-oil sector since its establishment. Caspian European Club, which brings together over 5,000 member companies and organization, is operating in 50 countries around the world, carrying out an active work to maintain the dialogue between government agencies and the private sector.

Head of the State Migration Service Firudin Nabiyev was presented an honorary membership certificate of the Caspian European Club. Certificates were also presented to new companies of the Caspian European Club. Participating in the business forum of the Caspian European Club were executives of companies and representatives from a number of diplomatic agencies accredited in Azerbaijan.