Wall Street Journal: Azerbaijan fights against corruption and bureaucracy by creating ASAN Service

Azerbaijani Government service set-up to cut bureaucracy, strengthen transparency and improve the ease of doing business in the republic will take to the road in June, with special buses designed to help the people access the enhanced public services, American online Wall Street Journal reported.
President Aliyev personally created ASAN in a bid to fast-track the reform of Government agencies and to improve efficiency, transparency, accountability and to reduce corruption, the report says.
The setting up of the ASAN Service was also consistent with the criteria laid out by the World Bank for “Doing Business”, which annually assesses how hard nations are working to slash red tape and simplify processes.
According to the report, ASAN has a remit to open up and simplify all areas of Government, from the issuing of forms, ID cards and passports to taxation issues and the registration of companies. Already the number of procedures involved in starting a business in Azerbaijan has been reduced from thirty to just seven, and the cost has halved, the report says.
“The special buses will travel to the settlements and regions where the ASAN Service will not be opened this year and will render services to the population on the ground,” State Agency for Public Services and Social Innovations under the Azerbaijani President (ASAN) chairman Inam Karimov said.
From June onwards, the buses will ensure an even broader reach, Karimov said.
Already 60,000 citizens have used the existing ASAN services, most through city centres and telephone call centres.
“The next step is to get foreign businessmen to use the ASAN Service. At a conference in Baku last week, discussions revolved around streamlining visas and work permits under ASAN, which will greatly benefit both multinational companies operating in Azerbaijan and the nation, which benefits from their expertise,” the report says.
ASAN is just part of the Government’s reform agenda aimed at simplifying processes, improving the ease of doing business, enhance transparency while combating corruption in order to serve its citizens better, the report says.