Doing Business in Azerbaijan 2009 - Azerbaijan Export ...

150 DOING BUSINESS IN AZERBAIJAN
• application (can be received from the MLSPP);
• copy of the license issued to the Employer;
• copy of the document verifying that foreign employee is able to
undertake activities.
Business etiquette
Appointment and Meetings
Arrange appointments in advance. Try to do so via telephone and
confirm it with a letter or an e-mail. It is a very good idea to call on
the day or the day before to check that it is still convenient. Local
business people only take very seriously those appointments that
are reconfirmed. The dynamics of business life means that people
at senior level tend to change their schedule at short notice.
Although Azerbaijanis do not practice time keeping and punctuality
perfectly, they will expect you to do so. If you do arrive on time it is
not uncommon for you to be left waiting while a previous meeting
is wrapped up or a telephone conversation is taking place. You may
have to wait but you will almost certainly have the meeting. So try
to leave plenty of time between meetings to allow for slippage.
A shock to many visitors is how long it takes to move around the
city. Baku is quite compact and the centre in particular is well
suited to walking although the sidewalks, steps and pedestrian
areas are not very well paved and one needs to look where you are
walking. But in a car, travelling in and around Baku is an
increasingly time consuming and frustrating activity.
The number of SUVs, cars and buses on the city’s streets is rising
at an alarming rate. The city’s streets are narrow, not well surfaced
generally, and there is no provision made for off-street parking.
Finding a place to park can be a real challenge. In addition, Baku is
in the process of being rebuilt and construction activity is at every