Thursday, 15 May 2008
Today the RA Business Support Council by the Prime Minister has met in an extended plenum, presided over by council chairman, RA Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan.
Apart from the council membership, the meeting was attended by head of the RA State Tax Service by the Government Vahram Barseghyan, acting head of the RA State Customs Committee Gagik Khachatryan, chairman of the RA State Commission on Protection of Economic Competition Ashot Shahnazaryan, the resident director of the EU-financed Armenian-European Economic Policy and Legal Advice Center, the head of the EBRD Armenia Office, the president of the newly established Canadian-Armenian Chamber of Trade and Industry, the chairman of the NKR Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs (Employers), heads of domestic companies, legal entity unions, various foundations and non- governmental organizations.
The meeting has discussed issues bearing on the strategy and activities of the Council under the RA Government Program.
In his opening remarks RA Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan stated that the new government of Armenia gives special value to BSC activities which are supposed to provide Armenia with the best business environment in the region that might be competitive on a worldwide scale. The Prime Minister pointed out 3 basic goals for the meeting: firstly, to discuss those approaches already embraced by the Government and forming the basis of its program of activities, secondly, to identify the existing bottlenecks and indicate such organizational measures as may lead to increased efficiency in council activities and, finally, to discuss the council agenda for the period 2008-2009. Tigran Sargsyan presented in detail his vision of the ways to achieving these targets, the ongoing reform processes, public-private sector cooperation etc.
The representatives of business circles prioritized the availability of a constructive dialog, the participation of the private sector in the implementation of the government program, the government's clear-cut commitment to strengthening the atmosphere of mutual confidence in an effort to carry out true reforms in the country. They expressed appreciation of the ongoing open discussions which in their words are unprecedented by their straightforwardness, transparency and the multitude of proposals. The entrepreneurs said to be convinced that the present reforms instill the hope that corruption, shadow economy, protectionism and other adverse phenomena may be curbed successfully.
Following the exchange of opinions, Tigran Sargsyan told the stakeholders to review the BSC strategy in smaller groups and submit to the Council Secretariat their comments and proposals within a two weeks' time in order to prepare a summary document for discussion at the next extended meeting.
RA Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan's Remarks at Expanded Session of Business Support Council
The Business Support Council sessions should be given a new impetus as the newly formed government values its efforts, especially as you may be well aware of the chief points of the program of government. We intend to provide Armenia with the best business environment in the region which might be competitive on a worldwide scale. This means that together with you we have to perform quite serious work and this work is susceptible to be estimated objectively as there are numerous authoritative international structures in this sphere which are known for their assessment methodology and can constantly represent the world community in comparison of business - environment of the various countries. These indicators will be in the center of attention of the government and, based on this methodology, we shall reveal our relative advantages and main shortcomings, our weak points where the government will have to make efforts so as the barriers to business we are overcome through joint efforts. I can assure you that this is a priority for the government. A second point is that in our region, due to geopolitical problems, Armenia is faced with competitive restrictions. Many businesses are more costly in Armenia than in neighboring countries. It is obvious that these negative factors which will have long-term influence on our economic system must be offset by means of such assets as will ensure comparative advantage for Armenia's business environment. As a result, doing business in Armenia has to become more advantageous than in the neighboring States. This means that we need to make far more efforts toward the improvement of domestic business environment. You may be aware that we have started developing and implementing sufficiently serious programs in the spheres of tax and customs administration. The tasks may have already reached you: we are going to present to your attention a concept on improvements in tax administration, as well as a program of action and a time-schedule. Together with you, we shall have the opportunity to discuss both the concept and the program of actions. We will also discuss your participation in the implementation, monitoring and oversight of these actions. A group is to be established by the Prime Minister to supervise tax and customs administrations in the Republic of Armenia. A direct communication line
