Foreigners benefit from mobile e-signatures in Azerbaijan
By Nigar Orujova
Foreign nationals were granted an opportunity to obtain the mobile digital signature "ASAN imza" in Azerbaijan from July 8.
Official distribution of "ASAN-imza" signatures started in May.
The first ASAN Service center, which successfully ensures unified and coordinated provision of services by state bodies, was established under the State Agency for Public Services and Social Innovations under the President of Azerbaijan in January.
Foreign citizens living in Azerbaijan who benefit from the e-government regardless of their stay in Azerbaijan or in any other country can use a variety of electronic services including e-commerce.
The first ASAN Service center issued an electronic certificate and SIM-card for the first time to a foreigner who has the right of permanent residence in Azerbaijan on July 8. This is the first electronic signature issued to a citizen of another country who has the right to reside in the country.
Taking into account the growing number of foreigners living in Azerbaijan, this event is very important, Azad Jafarov, head of the international and public relations department of the Agency, said.
52,341 foreign citizens applied to the State Migration Service for the registration of residence last month.
People can very easily and conveniently obtain "ASAN imza" at the ASAN service centers, as well as in all the service centers of the Ministry of Taxes, the head of the ministry's legal affairs department, Samira Musayeva, said.
According to her, any citizen who applied at one of the locations may receive a SIM-card of the mobile operator, and using this card may activate his or her signature. In addition, they can easily and safely use all the services in accordance with modern standards. This means that any citizen who acquired 'ASAN imza' in Azerbaijan will be able to use this signature in other countries which recognize it.
Persons running a business in Azerbaijan and companies with business partners abroad may sign "ASAN imza" in a simplified manner. Having obtained a signature, a citizen will be freed from many passwords and codes and using a single signature will be able to take advantage of all the electronic services of the public and privately owned organizations.
According to Musayeva, the Ministry of Taxes is one of the best places among the central executive bodies for the provision of electronic services. The number of users of e-services of the Ministry exceeded 2 million people in the country of 9.3 million people last year, which means that the taxpayer receiving "ASAN imza" will be able to carry all the tax transactions using it.
To use the mobile digital signature it is necessary to change the Sim-card. Azerbaijani mobile communication operators' representatives will be working in the centers. The installation of the application and the activation of the mobile digital signature will be carried out both in the center for electronic signature certification under the Ministry of Taxes and ASAN-Xidmet centers.
The new platform of the mobile signature center is integrated with the platforms of all the three cellular operators of Azerbaijan.
The ASAN service centers render access to 25 services that are provided by nine government agencies without extra expenses and loss of time. The centers are open from 10:00 AM until 20:00 PM and until 17:00 PM on Sundays.
In addition, ASAN has 22 auxiliary services, including opening bank accounts, currency exchange, banking services for payments of state fees and penalties, real estate and car insurance, legal advice, medical services, and translation services.