NEW PRIME MINISTER OF ARMENIA CONSIDERS IMPROVEMEMT OF TAX AND CUSTOMS ADMINISTRATION AS MOST IMPORTANT TASK

Noyan Tapan
April 10, 2008

YEREVAN, APRIL 10, NOYAN TAPAN. The new prime minister of Armenia
Tigran Sargsian considers improvement of tax and customs administration
as a priority of the government. "The key to all our problems:
improvement of the business environment, competition, the shadow
economy, etc. – is in this sector," he told reporters on April 10.

T. Sargsian, who was appointed prime minister the day before by
the decree of the president Serge Sargsian, has held the position
of chairman of the Central Bank of Armenia (CBA) in the past ten
years. On April 10, he conducted a sitting of the government (in
its old composition) for the first time. He said that formation of
a new government composed of people dedicated to their job is a most
difficult task, particularly, for political reasons because this "team"
has to be satisfactory to all the sides of the political coalition. He
declined to comment on issues related to the composition and structure
of the future government, as well as to respond to the question about
whom he sees as the CBA chairman instead of himself.

Although the new government has to present officially its program of
activities to the National Assembly for approval, T. Sargsian said
that he intends to implement the previous government’s program,
which was approved by the parliament in June of last year, and he
will also be guided by the program presented by S. Sargsian in the
presidential election. In these "ambitious" programs he pointed out
such important goals as creation of a financial center in Armenia,
turning the country into a health and tourist servicing center,
and improvement of the country’s business environment to make it
"one of the best in the world".

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress