Economic Research Center organized annual conference dedicated to outcomes of 2012

This conference is conducted at Fuzuli hall of Park INN hotel with participation of representatives from the Ministry of Taxes, Ministry of Transportation, Ministry of Education, Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Labor and Social Protection of People, Ministry of Communication and Information Technologies, Ministry of Melioration and Water Management OJSC, State Committee on Urban Planning and Architecture, Center for Strategic Studies under the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, State Oil Fund, “ Baku electric network” OJSC and other governmental agencies. Moreover, representatives of OSCE, European Union, GIZ, British Council and other international organizations as well as Switzerland, France, Romania, Korea, Japan, China, Belarus and Iran embassies, including local civil society institutions and mass media.
The member of ERC Management Board DunyaCamalova delivered opening remarks and mentioned that the Center has been presenting its annual results for 6 years: “ An organization that requires transparency and accountability from state and other agencies certainly should respond these requirements as well. This is our principle and we annually report about our activities, achieved successes, challenges faced by us and future plans as well. This is 7th annual conference. D.Camalova also mentioned about a change of chairman of ERC Management Board and for this reason a new chairman of ERC Management Board GalibBayramov delivered presentation. G.Bayramov mentioned that the activities of ERC covered 5 directions in 2012: “They are budget transparency and management of oil revenues, institutional development of municipalities, electronic municipality, public participation, transparency and accountability, macroeconomic and social policy studies, business environment and entrepreneurship analysis, and eventually internship programs. Except the last one, other activities are funded by donors.”
According to G.Bayramov, one of the main activity direction of ERC last year was strengthening civil society. Thus, the Center successfully terminated the project on “ Support to strengthening civil society” aimed uphold economic and legal problems of civil society institutions. This project is funded by Open Society Institute Assistance Foundation Budapest office and Marshal Foundation and ERC experts prepared “ Civil Society in Azerbaijan: National agenda for a change” document, Proposal Package on Tax Code related to economic activities of NGOs, including assessment reports on adaptation of NGO legislation of Azerbaijan to international standards within the framework of this project.
At the same time, after rejections for state registration of NGOs by the Ministry of Justice and 10 times there were court cases on this issue. Another activity of ERC on enhancement of civil society institutions is implementation of “Enhancing the effectiveness of government by strengthening the role of think tanks in decision-making arena” project funded by European Union. During 2012, 3 trainings were conducted for partner 18 think tanks ( 4 regions and 14 Baku). The trainings were “Strategic Management in think tanks”, “Quality control over policy papers in think tanks” and “ Strategic Management in think tanks”. Besides, ERC provided methodical support to partner think tanks on organization of quality control institutions and strategic management as well. In addition, activities dedicated to establishing relations between partner think tanks and business community.
Furthermore, ERC provided its support to institutional development of municipalities via projects of GIZ and British Council: “ So, for the first time in Azerbaijan practical-methodical book was prepared on “ About accounting policy” law and accounting policy in municipalities based on the requirements of National Accounting Policy standards.”
In regard to expansion of public relations ERC achieved good results during 2012. Thus, 18 conferences, 13 round table discussion, 13 trainings and seminars as well as 32 public discussion, 5 field practices are organized in Baku and regions, and TV discussions were organized for 4 times in Baku and regions too.
There were over 40 foreign and local specialists in average, representatives of international organizations and foreign embassies in the country, local municipalities and citizens, including up to 20 mass media attended to public related events. Press releases were prepared and disseminated. In addition, there were 27 press releases prepared by PR department of ERC and disseminated in papers, internet websites, TV and radio news programs.

As coming to foreign relations, Economic Research Center awarded of 133rd place under “Top think tanks in the world” category and 9th place under “Top think tanks in advocacy” category survey conducted by Pennsylvania University. ERC cooperated with other international think tanks – Economic Research Center of Uzbekistan, Center for Political Studies in Kazakhstan, and Economic Research Foundation of Turkey.
The chairman of ERC Management Board and its members participated roughly at 15 international events in 2012.

In 2012, 92 % of ERC revenues obtained from non-commercial and 8 % from commercial activities. G.Bayramov clarified these revenues and stated that when we say commercial revenues it is meant funds paid to experts of ERC for their service to other organizations based on signed contract.
After the presentation, discussion session was announced.

ERC Public Relations Department