Support for the implementation of Azerbaijan’s National Standardisation Plan

Azerbaijan is a close partner of the European Union (EU) in the European Neighbourhood Policy and is currently negotiating its accession to the World Trade Organization (WTO). One of main challenges it must overcome is to deal with technical barriers to trade (TBT). 

This process requires an overhaul of the country's trade policies, where standards, technical regulations and standardisation all play an important role in the quality and competitiveness of products manufactured in the country. 

Three main components have been established to address the legislative and regulatory requirements and improve their performance, namely corporate governance; digital transformation; and financing mechanisms. The goal is to establish a technical standards system that will improve the Azerbaijani economy. An efficient and well-organised standardisation system that supports trade, health, the environment and other essential areas will have a positive impact on country’s business sector and its consumers. 

To support Azerbaijan in its efforts to achieve key TBT objectives, the EU is funding the twinning project in which FIIAPP has a role as the managing entity. Specialists from German (DIN), Swedish (SIS) and Spanish (UNE) standardisation bodies, led by the German Federal Ministry of Economic Affairs and Energy (BMWi), are supporting their Azeri counterparts (AZTAND), Azerbaijan's national standardisation body.