Information about a round table in Barda in the framework of the Youth Involvement in EITI Processes project

All 22 participants of the three-hours-and-a-half gathering were provided with proceedings from an international conference entitled Experience of Pilot Countries, as well as with a handbook Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative, portable calendars, notebooks and pens bearing the logos of the ITEI coalition, SIMIB and DIGIB organizations. Also in the course of the event, the walls of the seminar room were hung on with writing pads, as well as instructional sheets, bearing the logos of the ITEI coalition, SIMIB and DIGIB, with information about revenues and expenditures of the State Oil Fund of Azerbaijan (SOFAZ). In addition, four posters - which had been prepared by the ITEI Coalition and used as wall sheets during the meeting – were hung out in the central street of Barda.

Opening the round table, project manager Mr A. Mikayilov informed the audience of the goal, objectives and topicality of the project as well as the organisations implementing it (EITI, SIMIB, and DIGIB).

Then the floor was given to Mr Anar Xalilov, the chairman of SIMIB. The presentation by Mr Khalilov had in-depth coverage of the role of petrodollars in the ongoing socioeconomic situation in Azerbaijan.

After that it was the turn of Mr Matlab Abbasov, the chairman of SIMIB’s Law Studies Centre and lecturer at Odlar Yurdu University, to provide extensive information to the participants on the reasons for and historical background to the establishment and, afterwards, management of the State Oil Fund of the Azerbaijan Republic (SOFAZ), as well as necessary prerequisites for the foundation of the ITEI coalition, its mission, activities and history. An expert in law, Mr Matlab Abbasov also touched upon at length the benefits of civilian oversight of EITI developments.

Finally, Mr Rasim Abutalibov, the head of SIMIB’s section of economics and lecturer at Kavkaz University, made a comprehensive presentation on the sources of receipts to SOFAZ and areas of allocation of the proceeds out of the accounts of the institution, including the projects that were funded by the Fund.

The presentations raised many questions which were answered at length by speakers.

In implementing the round table, the Ministry of Youth and Sports provided the organizational support, with information support given on behalf of the State Oil Fund of the Azerbaijan Republic (SOFAZ).