State investment expenses: Transparency and effectiveness in Azerbaijan

National Budget Group and Coalition “For Improving Transparency in Extractive Industries” (EITI) press conference.

On 11 September National Budget Group (NBG) and Coalition of NGOs for Improving transparency in Extractive Industries (EITI) held a round table dedicated to “Public Expenditures: Effectiveness and Transparency”. Research results of usage directions of resources allocated in 2008 to investment projects from the state budget held by independent experts were presented, issues of structure and dynamics of budget investment changes and its social – economic impacts were discussed during the round table.

Round table

Coordinator of EITI Qubad Ibadoglu and coordinator of National Budget Group Emil Omarov have started the event with welcoming speeches.

After this member of governing board of National Budget Group Zohrab Ismayilov delivered a speech on “State expenditures: effectiveness and transparency” and the round table continued with further discussions around this issue. Head advisor of US AID Paul Davis, employee of economic department of US embassy Salim Ariturk, executive director of OSI-AF Farda Esedov, member of NBG Azer Mehtiyev, deputy chairman of center for assistance to economic initiatives Rovshan Agayev and member of Investigative network of Azerbaijani journalists Chingiz Sultansoy made speeches around these issues.

Government representatives from the Ministry of Telecommunications and Ministry of Health, representatives of international organizations from USAID, IMF and OSCE, representatives of diplomatic corpus from the Embassy of US, NGOs, media representatives and independent experts have participated in the round table. At the end the round table participants have decided to include the offers made during discussions into the Recommendation Paper to be presented to the government and Parliament. At the same time send information survey relating uncertain issues to a number of appropriate bodies.