Thursday, 27 May 2010
Business development conditions being improved
Chaired by Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan, the Government held a regular session at the Office of Government.
The Government invalidated two previous decisions making it possible for different organizations and individual businessmen to get their taxpayer registration numbers through the RA State Register in parallel to the process of registration. To this end, the tax authority has allowed online access to its automated data bases. Thereby, any taxpayer will be registered and granted a registration number according to the one-stop-shop principle. With the same purpose, the Government approved the list of such natural person-related details to be recorded with competent authorities as will be required for registration purposes, as well as the sample application and certificate forms, the list of details to be put on a sample certificate, the list of data subject to filling in the request for granting a registration number by the CBA, the application form, the list of details to be put on a sample certificate and the sample certificate. With a view to giving this issue an all-round settlement, the Government came up with a legislative initiative aimed at making corresponding amendments to a set of relevant laws, including the RA Law on Taxes. According to the Prime Minister, the passage of all needed decisions will help inculcate the one-stop-shop principle in this field.
Based on the legislation of the Republic of Armenia, the Government decided to grant Saranist Ltd up to 3-year deferment on VAT payments to be made for imports exceeding the sum of AMD300mn. Thereby, the company will be able to import USD1.5mn worth of state-of-the-art equipment for the manufacture of glass containers generating thus 60 new jobs. As stated by the Prime Minister, Saranist Ltd is the eighth such company having been supported by the Government: “Investment programs should be exposed to monitoring with their findings being open to society so that the latter entertained no apprehension whatsoever of any misuse of public funds,” Tigran Sargsyan stated.
The Government also decided to acknowledge under the north-south road corridor investment program the status of exclusive and prevailing public interest for a number of territories situated within the administrative borders of the Republic of Armenia.
This decision concerns the interests of more than 800 Armenian citizens. Careful environmental and cultural - historical examination will have to be carried out before proceeding to construction activities for as stated by the Prime Minister, it seems to be impossible that such a large-scale project fails to give rise to environmental or cultural heritage-related problems.
Under another decree passed by the Cabinet, AMD 10,000.0 thousand will be allocated from the Government’s Reserve Fund to Shirak marz administration for reconstruction of Octet musical school N6 after Azat Shirinyan in Gyumri town of Armenia which will also be co-financed with the proceeds of Mediamax news agency-initiated “Rock for Armenia – Armenia is Grateful to Rock” cultural program. To this end, the Armenian Relief Fund has opened a special account to collect the amount of AMD 18,327.0 thousand as mobilized during Jan Gillan’s Yerevan concerts of last March. Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan noted in this connection that a rock festival is scheduled in Armenia referred to as “Rock against Genocide.” Numerous outstanding musicians from all over the world have already agreed to take part in this major event.
The Executive next endorsed the proposal on concluding a Renewed Memorandum of Understanding between the Government of the Republic of Armenia and Lincy Foundation implying that the Foundation will continue financing the program of school construction in the disaster zone by earmarking USD12mn-equivalent Armenian drams to that effect. Tigran Sargsyan thanked the management of LF by noting that school construction proved to be the most successful program carried out by the Foundation in Armenia which helped introduce best construction standards in Armenia.
The Government discussed and issued findings on a number of legislative initiatives which will be sent to the National Assembly in the manner established by law.
