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Azerbaijan imported over 63,400 vehicles in 20009, or 28.8 percent less than in 2008, the State Statistics Committee reported.

EU ambassador to Azerbaijan Roland Kobia believes that the "Eastern Partnership" program will bring to Azerbaijan not only economic benefits, but also will help start a dialogue with its neighbors, which is a key aspect of solving any conflict.

The US government chalked up a smaller-than-expected budget deficit in January, the Treasury said Wednesday, though the gap is projected to hit a record 1.56 trillion dollars in 2010, AFP reports.

Kazakhstan-based Tengizshevroil company working on Tengiz and Korovelskoe oilfields has ceased pumping oil through BTC.

In total 1.7 billion cubic meters of gas was pumped through Azerbaijan’s network of trunk pipelines in January, up 10.5% from a year ago.

On Jan. 21, Toyota issued a gargantuan recall to address a potential safety hazard that’s been making waves the world over, northernlife.ca reported.

The International Telecommunication Union, which is taking part in the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona this week, has released a report predicting that total global mobile cellular subscriptions will reach 5 billion this year, up from about 4.6 billion at the end of 2009, tmcnet.com reported.

The economic growth of Azerbaijan, which GDP increased by more than 9 percent for the last year, will allow improving investment climate in the country for Lebanese businessmen, Lebanese Foreign Minister, Ali Shami, said.

Every year the volume of budgetary financing of health services is increased in Azerbaijan the Ministry of Health said on the basis of an expanded meeting of the Ministry's board.

Recently, Turkmenistan has been actively following the policy of diversifying its gas supplies.

There is a risk that oil demand in the United States remains flat or falls this year, the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) said Wednesday, citing uncertainty about economic recovery in the US, DPA reported.

China’s auto sales surged 124% in January to a monthly record of 1.66 million vehicles, extending last year’s strong gains and bucking forecasts for weaker growth, gasgoo.com reports.

Georgia and Azerbaijan signed a joint agreement today to combat customs offenses in 2010-2011.

Baku Taxes Department has made structural changes, said Natig Amirov, the department’s official.

The next Belarusian National exhibition will be organized in Baku in May.

Trend News Persian Desk conducted interview with Iranian Vice-President, Cultural Heritage and Tourism Organization Chief, chairman of the Center for Free Economic Zones Hamid Baghai.

The dynamic development of Azerbaijan's economy served as a basis for successful tax reforms in 2009, Azerbaijani Tax Minister Fazil Mammadov said at a board meeting devoted to the ministry's activities last year and 2010 priorities.

The Azerbaijani banks and insurance companies show more responsible attitude to the obligatory audit control compared to other economic facilities, Azerbaijani Auditors Chamber Chairman Vahid Novruzov said today

The State Oil Fund of Azerbaijan Republic (SOFAZ) and RiskMetrics Solutions Inc. signed a contract under which the company will offer SOFAZ services on implementation of software for risk assessment, the company reported.

Turkey regards the current price of the Azerbaijani gas not acceptable, and will buy gas at a new agreed price,

The Azerbaijani Ministry of Culture and Tourism suspended the activity of 25 hotels and hotel-type facilities which operated without licenses, the Minister of Culture and Tourism of Azerbaijan Abulfaz Garayev said today.

The Azerbaijani State Property Committee approved an action plan for 2010 as part of national strategy to increase transparency and to fight against corruption, the Committee reported

The growth of Azerbaijani economy has continued in 2009. GDP real growth for crisis year turned out to be very high 9.3 percent, the finance minister Samir Sharifov said in a meeting of the Cabinet of Ministers dedicated to the socio-economic development in 2009, which was presided over by Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev

The Saudi Arabian business community is interested in joint projects in Turkmenistan, Adviser to the Saudi Arabian Interior Ministry Prince Muhammad bin Saad bin Khalid bin Mohammad Al Saud said during a meeting with Turkmen President Gurbangulu Berdimuhammedov.

President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has Monday presided over a Cabinet`s meeting dealing with the outcomes of socio-economic development in 2009, AzerTAj state news agency reported.

Oil prices hovered around $78 a barrel Monday as traders weighed doubts about global oil demand against a weaker U.S. dollar, which made crude cheaper for investors holding other currencies, AP reported.

The State Oil Company of the Azerbaijan Republic (SOCAR) will continue implementing ecological projects in areas belonging to the Bibiheybat Oil and Gas Producing Department (OGPD), said Azneft Production Unit Deputy General Director Faig Jafarov at a Saturday meeting.

The capitalization of the banking sector of Azerbaijan grew 1.8 percent in October 2009, and 16.6 percent compared with the beginning of the year, the Central Bank of Azerbaijan (CBA) said. The total capital of banks is 1.987,29 million manat.

Iran intends to purchase about 5 billion cubic meters of gas from Azerbaijan, Iranian Ambassador to Azerbaijan Mohammad Bagir Behrami told journalists today.

The international conference "Major Directions of Turkmen Power-Engineering Development" began this week at the Ashgabat Exhibition Center.

The Nabucco gas pipeline project is still very much a pipe dream in terms of cost, length and technology, Director of Analysis at the U.S STRATFOR Center Reva Bhalla said.

Azerbaijan’s youngest mobile operator Azerfon LLC (Nar Mobile) has got a 3G services license from the Ministry of Communications and Information Technologies, Azerfon’s General Director Gido Helbich told APA-ECONOMICS.

Representatives of the East Capital Swedish investment fund will meet and explore cooperation possibilities with the ADA Group in Baku tomorrow.

Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair will pay a private visit to Azerbaijan Dec. 1 upon the invitation of the Azerbaijani company AZMECO, AZMECO Board Chairman Nizami Piriyev told Trend News today.

The Azerbaijani parliament approved the draft forecasts on 2010 public budget, the consolidated budget and socio-economic concept for 2010 and subsequent three year by 101 votes in favor and 8 against.

The dollar dropped to a 14-year low against the yen. Asian stocks declined, led by Japanese exporters, and European stocks fell, Bloomberg reported.

The main problem troubling fruit growers of Guba and Khachmaz – difficulty in selling the products – will be eliminated at the governmental level.

The bill on state budget for 2010 will be put for discussion in the parliament for confirmation on November 25, the parliament told APA.

A certificate awarding ceremony of the international awareness campaign "Justice for Khojaly", initiated by Mrs. Leyla Aliyeva, General Coordinator for Intercultural Dialogue of the Islamic Conference Youth Forum for Dialogue and Cooperation (ICYF-DC), will be held in Baku on Monday.

It is very important that U.S. policymakers have said they would pursue a strong dollar policy, European Central Bank President Jean-Claude Trichet said on Thursday.

Azerbaijan’s state-owned mail service company Azeri Post has announced a tender for the procurement of computer hardware as part of the World Bank-funded Financial Services Development Project.

French utility GDF Suez, which is already in talks to join the OAO Gazprom-led Nord Stream pipeline, would also be prepared to take a fresh look at the Nabucco pipeline project, the Wall Street Journal quoted Chief Executive Gerard Mestrallet as saying.

A two-day conference on “The Role of Transparency in Financial Resources Management in Post-Crisis Economy” has today kicked off in Baku.

The Central Bank of Azerbaijan issued a license to the Azerbaijani national postal operator LLC Azerpocht to provide financial services to the public, Minister of Communications and Information Technologies, Ali Abbasov said on Oct. 9.

On Oct. 28, the sea passenger transport will be restored between the Iranian port of Anzali and Azerbaijani port of Baku, the source at the Baku International Sea Trade Port said on Oct. 8.

According to IMF forecasts, growth of real GDP will slightly reduce in Azerbaijan but preserve as positive by hitting 7.5 percent in 2009 but 7.4 percent in 2010, head of IMF representation in Baku Koba Gvenetadze said at a press-conference dedicated to presentation of the fund's report 'Prospects of world economy development' on October 8.

The Azerbaijani Industry and Energy Ministry has devised and submitted to the Azerbaijani Presidential Administration a draft proposal for the agency of alternative and renewable energy, Deputy Industry and Energy Minister Gulmirza Javadov said on Oct.12.

The French company Total has returned to work in the oil and gas industry in Iran, Rza Kasaizade, Director General of the Iran National Gas Company said, official news site of the Iranian TV channel reported.

A great part of the global financial and economic crisis is behind, believes analysts of the British Capital Economics company.

Turkmenistan has rich reserves of hydrocarbon. While delivering them to the international markets, it contributes much in overcoming the world economic crisis, Turkmen President Gurbanguly Berdimuhammedov told the national security staff on occasion of their professional holiday.

Georgia's s public budget for 2010 will be increased. This decision was taken at the cabinet meeting.