Azerbaijani government to maintain oversight role in economy — Deputy PM

BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 5. Azerbaijan’s
government does not intend to completely abandon its oversight role
in the economy, the country's Deputy Prime Minister Samir Sharifov
said, Trend
reports.

Speaking at the forum titled “Looking to the Future in the Tax
System: New Governance Model and Data-Driven Decisions,” Sharifov
emphasized that the government’s objective is to make economic
oversight more efficient and aligned with modern economic processes
rather than eliminate it.

“Our goal is not to completely abandon the oversight function in
the economy. Today, relations between the state and business are
entering a new stage. Economic development is possible not only
through administrative regulation but also through a system of
relations based on trust,” Sharifov said.

He noted that predictable policies, clear rules, and a stable
approach are key indicators of a healthy business environment.
According to Sharifov, the government aims to transform regulation
into a “smarter and more effective format that corresponds to
economic processes.”

“The government’s goal is not to completely abandon the control
function or reduce it to a minimum, but to make it smarter, more
efficient, and aligned with economic processes. The reduction of
the ‘shadow economy’ should also be viewed as a result of this
systemic and institutional approach,” he said.

Sharifov also stressed the importance of properly defining
priorities in budget and fiscal policy, improving the efficiency of
public spending, and strengthening non-oil revenue sources.

“In this context, tax policy should be positioned not only as a
tool for maximizing fiscal collections, but as an important
mechanism that shapes economic behavior, influences investment
decisions and ensures social balance,” he said.

According to the deputy prime minister, taxes and mandatory
social contributions should not suppress economic activity but
instead encourage it while simultaneously creating a reliable
resource base to finance social obligations and protect public
welfare.