Azerbaijan Overview
GENERAL
Official name of the state
Republic of Azerbaijan.
Capital
Baku.
Geography
As a country located in Asia according to physicscat, Azerbaijan is at the interface between Europe and Asia. It shares borders with the Russian Federation, Georgia, Armenia, Turkey, and Iran. The Republic of Armenia divides Azerbaijan into two differently sized halves, the smaller part lies in the west in the Lesser Caucasus, the larger extends in the east from the Greater Kaukausus to the steppes of the Muganskaya Ravnina and the Caspian Sea. The highest peaks are the Schachdag (4243 m) and the Bazar-Dyuzi (4480 m). The biggest attractions for visitors are the metropolis of Baku with the historic old town, the Ramana Castle, the vast steppe of Kakheti and the Caucasus.
Government
Presidential republic since 1995. Constitution of 1995. Parliament with 125 members. The territory includes the Nagorny-Karabakh Autonomous Region and the Nakhichevan Autonomous Republic, which have their own legislative and executive branches. Since 1991 independent state of the CIS.
Head of state
President Ilcham Aliyev, since 2008.
Head of government
Artur Rasizade, since 2003.
Electricity
220 V, 50 Hz. European, 2-pin plug.
Time zone
Azerbaijan Time: CET +5
ECONOMY
Opening hours
Business hours: Mon-Fri 9 a.m.-5 p.m.
Economy
Federation of German Industries
(Eastern Committee of German Business)
Breite Strasse 29, D-10178 Berlin
Tel: (030) 20 28 14 52.
Internet: www.ostausschuss.de
Austrian
Chamber of Commerce (Eastern Europe Department)
Stubenring 8-10, A-1010 Vienna
Tel: (01) 514 50.
Internet: http://portal.wko.at
United Economic
Chambers Sonnenbergstrasse 48, CH-8032 Zurich
Tel: (044) 268 43 00.
Internet: www.jointchambers.ch
Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Republic of Azerbaijan
ul. Istiglaliyat 31/33, AZ-37 00 01 Baku
Tel: (012) 92 89 12.
Business contacts
Federation of German Industries
(Eastern Committee of German Business)
Breite Strasse 29, D-10178 Berlin
Tel: (030) 20 28 14 52.
Internet: www.ostausschuss.de
Austrian
Chamber of Commerce (Eastern Europe Department)
Stubenring 8-10, A-1010 Vienna
Tel: (01) 514 50.
Internet: http://portal.wko.at
United Economic
Chambers Sonnenbergstrasse 48, CH-8032 Zurich
Tel: (044) 268 43 00.
Internet: www.jointchambers.ch
Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Republic of Azerbaijan
ul. Istiglaliyat 31/33, AZ-37 00 01 Baku
Tel: (012) 92 89 12.
COMMUNICATION
Phone
The country code for Azerbaijan is 00994. The area code for Baku is 012. Telephone communication takes place mainly via mobile phones. Telephone booths are available in large cities, they work with phone cards (to be bought in the train station, at kiosks or in the post office) or with coins.
Cellphone
GSM 900 covers the capital and the largest cities. No transmission and reception area in the mountains. Local mobile network providers are Azercell (Internet: www.azercell.com, also offers 4G services) and Bakcell (Internet: www.bakcell.com, 3G services) (both GSM network 900). There are roaming contracts with most international providers.
Internet
Internet access is available in all cities. Network providers include Azerin (Internet: www.azerin.com), AzEuroTel (Internet: www.azeurotel.com) and Bakinternet (Internet: www.bakinter.net).
Post Office
International mail is sometimes interrupted and there are delays. Letters to Western Europe usually take 10-14 days. Parcels should be sent by registered mail in order to speed up the transport
Radio
Since the use of shortwave frequencies changes several times over the course of a year, it is advisable to contact Deutsche Welle customer service directly (Tel: (+49) (0228) 429 32 08. Internet: www.dw-world.de) to request.
SHOP
Overview
If you want to take a real Azerbaijani carpet home as a souvenir, you should go to the carpet weaving mill in Nardaran. Local silks, ceramics and other handicrafts can be bought at the Sharg Bazar in Baku; Action is common. Carpets or other goods made before 1960 are subject to a tax and can only be exported with a permit from the Ministry of Culture. Articles that are offered for sale in art galleries or souvenir shops usually already have this certificate. Anyone who buys at market stalls or from private individuals must obtain approval. Shop opening times: Mon-Sat 9 am-7pm.
CULTURE
Religion
90% Muslims (of which approx. 20% Sunnis and 38% Shiites); Russian Orthodox and other Christian minorities.
Social rules of conduct
Azerbaijanis are very generous and like to give gifts, especially in the form of flowers, souvenirs and small treats. In order to be able to return so much friendliness, it is best to pack a few little things in your luggage. Local women mostly stay in the background. They serve the food to foreign guests, but will almost never attend. They are happy to receive a bouquet of flowers, but one should not try to get them involved in long conversations and to lure them out of yourself. Female travelers are treated with exquisite courtesy, which, for Westerners, can all too often degenerate into exaggerated attentions. It is therefore advisable to dress and behave cautiously. You shake hands in greeting. Business cards are not only used at business meetings,
Tipping: Staff in restaurants expect a tip of 5-10%, sometimes in advance. Taxi drivers are also given tips. You should generally find out about the current amounts in advance.
Military buildings or areas may not be photographed.
CLIMATE
Best travel time
Subtropical climate with regional differences. In the Kura Plain, hot, dry weather prevails in summer. The winters are mild. In the alpine climate of the mountain regions it can get quite cold. Summers are also rather cool in the mountains. The southernmost part of the country and the coastal areas are located in the humid subtropics. Highest rainfall in the west. The best time to travel to Baku is from April to June and in September and October.
Required clothing
Warm clothing should be taken into the mountains all year round.
COUNTRY DATA
Area code +994 Area (sqkm) 86,600 Population 9,780,780 Population density (per sqkm) 113 Population in 2015 Member of the EU No main emergency number 103
