Baku, 11 November (AZERTAC). The Second international forum on the role of customs offices in promotion and simplification of trade among the Great Silk Road countries commenced today in Baku.

In the Forum, dedicated to discussion of the questions of strengthening of cooperation, are taking part responsible persons of bodies of customs services of 11 countries - Azerbaijan, Turkey, Russia, Pakistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Iran, Japan, the Republic Korea, Georgia and Mongolia, plenipotentiaries of the World Customs Organization (WCO), the International Road Transport Union, the Organizations of Economic Cooperation, the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE), the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and ТRАСЕCА.

Addressing the Forum, deputy prime minister of Azerbaijan Abid Sharifov noticed that a network of huge trade ways “Great Silk Road”, beginning since the first millennium, connected the people of Europe and Asia and their traditions. These historical routes were the basic transfer corridor for transportation of valuable items, the information and knowledge between the East and the West. Passing of the historical Great Silk Road through Azerbaijan has played an exclusive role in creation of intensive communication with world trade, and were made significant steps to form customs work on the territory of the country adequate to the international standards.

Then, Abid Sharifov briefed on achievements of Azerbaijan during the last years, which, despite world financial crisis, is a leading state in region.

Touching upon the importance of the Forum, deputy prime minister of Azerbaijan noted also significance of the action in the field of goods turnover increase between the Great Silk Road countries, having today a considerable share in world trade and annually increasing this share. According to Sahrifov, the Silk Road as the traditional trading route of Eurasia, by means of certain infrastructure and organizational measures, can successfully strengthen the activity as a high-speed and effective alternative way for international trade. In this sense, the measures which will be carried out by customs services of the Great Silk Road countries, represent extremely great value to increase its potential possibilities, he stressed.

Abid Sharifov reminded the Antalya Declaration adopted last year in Turkey and the measures undertaken in Azerbaijan in this direction.

The Forum was addressed by the Secretary General of Permanent Secretariat of TRACECA Intergovernmental Commission Jotoro Satibaldiev.

The World Customs Organization and Azerbaijan State Customs Committee signed a memo on creation of WCO Regional Office.

In Forum, also speaking was the Turkish State Minister Hayati Yazichi and Chairman of the Azerbaijan State Customs Committee Aydin Aliyev, who expressed confidence that restoration of the Silk Road will promote intensification of economic, trade and cultural ties among the participant countries.

The Forum will continue on 12 November.

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