Friday, 25 July 2008
Presided over by RA Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan, a discussion has been held at the Office of Government concerning the Excellence Center nationwide program, which is aimed at improving Armenia
's business and investment environment.The discussion was attended by members of the government, the heads of the State Tax Service and the State Customs Committee by the Government, the chairman of RA NA standing commission on economic affairs, the mayor of Yerevan, the heads of the Armenian Union of Industrialists and Businessmen (Employers), Armenian Entrepreneurs Union, the President of Armenia
's Trade and Industry, the director of the National Center for Small and Medium-Size Business Development, over 50 other representatives of the private sector and non- governmental organizations.The Prime Minister emphasized the importance of meeting participants
' strong commitment to the development of this nationwide project. Tigran Sargsyan stated in part:"You may know that improving the domestic business environment is crucial from the standpoint of Armenia
's geopolitical situation. We should make of it an asset for our country as appreciated by those doing business in Armenia, including non-residents - foreign investors. They should see in practice that the business environment in Armenia inclusive of infrastructures is more favorable as compared to those of other countries. There is no alternative for us. We should manage to create such a cost-effective and easily-available environment as may compensate the relative weaknesses at hand: transport communications, geopolitical position in particular. We have no seaports and it seems to be clear that the political situation in the region urges us to be more attractive in terms of tax and customs administration. We have initiated a badly needed process: namely to modernize our tax and customs system. We realize quite well that the task is a complex one as it affects tens of thousands of our citizens: Not only do we have to change the behavior of tax and customs officers, but we also must change the attitude of economic operators. It goes without saying that the whole process will take a lot of time. Nevertheless, together we should ensure that getting in touch with tax and customs authorities appears to be less expensive on the one hand and clearer and more effective on the other. I mean that the two sides must meet each other.The program under review is a clear-cut one. All we need to carry it into effect is determination and consistency, as well as a sense of cooperation. The documents have been forwarded to you in advance and in a written form for your easy reference and thorough familiarization. I hope you have already got acquainted with them and we can start an effective discussion as to whether the described actions and the targets set by the government are feasible or which of the problems identified are subject to joint discussion."
Then, RA Minister of Economy Nerses Eritzyan presented the structure of and the logic behind the launching of the Excellence Center on which comments and proposals were voiced by several speakers.
As the discussion was completing, Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan thanked those present for the stake taken in the debate and went on to summarize the discussion.
"We will not be able to find exhaustive answers to the whole body of economic questions raised in this paper. The paper is aimed at improving the business environment. Those tasks relating to the government activities, organizational problems, the structure of our economy, the priorities have not been and could not be included in this paper. This discussion revealed another task to me, namely that perhaps there is a need for making a theme of separate discussion the structure of Armenia
's economy, the priorities, the investment mechanisms, the participation of the public sector, as well as those areas with 100% private sector commitment, where the private sector sets the priorities on its own. Considering the wide scope of questions, we will organize another discussion to that effect and will prepare a presentation material featuring the government's views and approaches to these issues.Now, I am going to speak about the Excellence Center project: we will try to summarize all of your comments and proposals, both written and verbal, and will rewrite the document making allowances for such proposals. Once finalized, the document will be posted on the government
's website for your reference. In the meantime, you are invited to continue presenting suggestions and recommendations for they are always welcome and useful to us."
