Component:External Trade Statistics

Contract: “Statistics 4”

Component:External Trade Statistics

Leader of the Component:Mr. Sulemanov

Update:March 2000

Azerbaijan

State Statistical Committee

Contract “Statistics 4”

Component “External Trade”

I. Introduction

1.1 Activities and previous results

In the framework of the Tacis programme, the project AZ08 NL 01 has been implemented during the whole year in the field of the foreign trade for 1993-1997 for Azerbaijan Republic. The Netherlands Central Bureau of Statistics was our EU partner.

1.2 Results

1. Beginning from 1994, the data structure of the foreign trade is being made up in accordance with the international harmonised system of goods classification.

2. Since 1994, the enterprise surveys were replaced by the use of customs declarations.

3. During 1996, Foreign trade department received software EUROTRACE for collection and classification of the statistical information about the foreign trade.

4. The methods, evaluation and corrections of information on the foreign trade have been studied.

5. Use of the indices of the foreign trade in the national accounts has been studied.

6. On the basis of the Tacis programme, mirror statistics which is accepted in the international practice of the foreign trade statistics, is being used in CIS countries.

2. Analysis of the problem

2.1 Previous situation

In 1992-1993, an information on the import and export of the goods from the primary organizations was collected and summarized.

Since 1994, to develop the indices of the foreign trade statistics, all the information has been automatized and a control system has been established Starting from this period, we monthly get an information from the State Customs Committee. This information includes only those indices from the customs goods declaration which are necessary for the statistical accounting. The statistical data on the foreign trade are processed by the State Statistical Committee on the basis of the customs information and published in the “Foreign Trade Statistics” bulletin published by the State Statistical Committee. This publication is used by the National Bank of Azerbaijan as a basic source of data to work out a balance of payments. In accordance with the international practice, the imported and exported goods are evaluated under the CIF and FOB systems.

2.2 Current situation

At present, an information is being elaborated connected with the import and export of the goods. The country-wise, goods-wise information on the import and export of the property is published in the bulletin quarterly. Earlier, a price of the goods was not mentioned in the information on the humanitarian aid received from the Customs Committee and that’s why it could not be possible to include it in the total turnover according to ТНВЭД. At present, the information submitted to the State Statistical Committee from the State Customs Committee includes the quantity as well as the price of goods. This information is processed and published in the monthly issued bulletin.

In connection with the mirror statistics, an annual information on the import and export came from the CIS countries, they were collated and passed to the Customs Committee.

The forms have been prepared and sent to the Netherlands Central Bureau of Statistics for surveys connected with the services in the foreign trade.

3. Objectives

To avoid the difficulties connected with the foreign trade statistics, the following actions have to be taken:

Calculation of the physical volume and index linking of the prices on the foreign trade (use of Eurotrace Version 97).

Determination of the methods to be used between the countries in connection with the mirror statistics to prevent a difference in the import-export operations.

To use the foreign trade turnover and procession of the additional indices when drawing up a balance of the payments.

Control over the costs of the imported and exported goods.

Study of an issue of the export and import of the foreign trade services.

Memorandum (exchange of data on the import and export with Eurostat every year).

4. Actions and proposals

4.1 Actions

To begin the implementation of the project there should be a material provision from the Tacis programme since the year 2000.

To set up a computer network, one PC-1 and one printer is required for the Foreign trade department only.

Justification: a) large volume of work, b) protection of the foreign trade data, c) getting all the data from the customs declarations.

5. Results

1. Study of the elaboration, calculation of the index linking and physical volume on the external trade.

2. Study of the methodology of use of the external trade turnover in the balance of payments.

3. Study of the methodology of inclusion of the undeclared imported and exported (in hidden way) goods in total external trade turnover (hidden economy).

4. Study and use of the methods for prevention of the differences in the import-export operations with other countries as a result of the mirror statistics.

5. Study of the methods of calculation of the export and import services.

6. Implementation of data exchange with Eurostat.

7. Update of the software Eurotrace.

The following activities are envisaged in the project

Table 1. AZ NL - Activities in the framework of the project

6. Facilities and expenditures

6.1 Facilities

6.1.1 Number of technical assistants from EU

Expert on the goods foreign trade

Expert on the services foreign trade

Expert on the mirror statistics

Expert from Eurostat on the information exchange

6.1.2 Number of specialists (involved for execution of the project from the State Statistical Committee).

Team Leader- 1

Experts on foreign trade- 2

Expert on the mirror statistics- 1

Table 2.Expenditures for the project in ECU

Equipment:1 PC7000

1 printer7000