The 2nd online coordination meeting of The eu4digital e-Commerce network was held
18.04.2020 / Conferences, assemblies
Representatives of the EaP countries, Lithuanian representatives of the EU4Digital project coordinators Ernst&Young and EC e-commerce experts took part in the 2nd Coordination CALL of EU4Digital E commerce Network on 17 April 2020. Azerbaijan was represented by employees of the Ministry of Transport, Communication and High Technologies Rustam Abdullazade, Leyla Bagirzade, Innovations and Digital Development Department, and T. Babayev, Head of Foreign Relations and Innovation Department of the Institute of Control Systems of ANAS, e-commerce expert in the EU4Digital Project.
The following issues were discussed during the call:
1. update on the MOST IMPORTANT activities in eCommerce legislation, standards, ecosystems in the countries
2. expectations where EU4Digital should focus and bring most value
T. Babayev’s speech on the overall situation with e-Commerce in Azerbaijan:
The law on e-Commerce in Azerbaijan was adopted in 2005 and amended in 2016. In the framework of HDM project, eTrade survey was conducted in 2016 and completed in 2017. Over the past three years there have been major changes. The volume of eTrade services increased, we have new trading platforms, new standards, etc.
In view of this, the Ministry of Transport, Communication and High Technologies currently preparing the new version of the eTrade law. We would like to note that although the volume of eTrade in the recent years in Azerbaijan has increased two/one and a half times annually, for example, 2682 million in 2018, 4410 million in 2019, the level of ecommerce in Azerbaijan remains very low - for example, we have only about 650 organizations that provide ecommerce services inside the country.
Because of the COVID-19 situation, the issue of domestic ecommerce becomes extraordinary relevant. That's why we believe that despite the availability of appropriate trade platforms such as azexport.az for foreign trade and Digital Trade Hub for both domestic and foreign trade, we believe that the level of ecommerce development in Azerbaijan does not meet modern standards.
Considering all this, we think that within the framework of EU4Digital project we could receive support in terms of EC legislation, security issues in transaction, etc.
Rustam Abdullazade, a representative of the Ministry of Transport, Communication and High Technologies will give you information on the ecommerce law and the work planned by the Ministry.
