ARMENIAN PRIME MINISTER: ARMENIA SHOULD BECOME THE MOST ATTRACTIVE COUNTRY FOR BUSINESS IN THE REGION

Arminfo
2008-05-16 09:31:00

ArmInfo. The Armenian government should create favorable conditions
for Armenia to become the most attractive country for business in the
region, Armenian Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan said at the session
of the council for the support of entrepreneurship under the RA
government, Thursday.

"Armenia has competitive restrictions in the region. A lot of
businesses are more expensive in Armenia than in the neighboring
countries. In this connection, we should create favorable conditions
for business in order to make entrepreneurship in Armenia more
profitable than in the neighboring countries. We intend to form
a business-climate which will not only be acknowledged the best
one in the region, but will compete in the international arena",
Sargsyan said.

As the governmental press-release says, it is for authoritative
international structures to assess the reforms. On the basis of
their assessments, the government will reveal the comparative
advantages and disadvantages. "I assure you that this is one of
the government’s priority tasks", Sargsyan said. He noted that the
government is going to submit a conception of tax administration
development for consideration of business circles. A monitoring
group will be set up under the prime minister, which will control the
tax and customs administration in the country. In addition, a direct
hotline will be created for complaints and proposals. Sargsyan promised
drastic reforms in this sphere. However, no reforms will be possible
without the support of the business and the public. The taxation and
customs authorities must learn to work and think in a new way and
stop collating with businessmen to the detriment of the state. The
government is going to substantially toughen fines for violations
but on the other hand to significantly increase the wages. "We have
a strong instrument in our hands – publicity. We hope that it will
help us to enlist public support for our reforms," Sargsyan said.

Representatives of the Taxation Service and the Customs Committee,
AEPLAC, EBRD and other organizations took part in the meeting.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress