Thursday, 9 December 2010
Business environment improves in Armenia
A cabinet sitting was held today under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan
Tigran Sargsyan informed the meeting that the first session of the Board of the All-Armenian Bank had been held at which Vahram Nercisiants was nominated to post of executive director. Thanking him for years-long teamwork, The Prime Minister wished him every success in this new position.
Based on Article 70 of the Constitution of the Republic of Armenia, the Government decided to suggest the Speaker of the National Assembly summoning an extraordinary National Assembly sitting on December 13, 2010, at 12:00. The agenda was proposed, too.
The dozen of decisions passed by the Government are a follow-up on the President’s electoral program and some other documents in which the need for quick improvement of the business environment is emphasized implying speedy pace of reform in Armenia. These reforms shall enhance Armenia’s overall competitiveness and improve our country’s standing on the World Bank’s Doing Business - 2012.
Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan noted that the package of decisions adopted and the proposed bills will simplify and improve considerably the business environment to have a positive impact on all of its indicators. Developed through the joint efforts of all the ministries and agencies, these documents are expected to yield the first results over the next six months.
Account taken of the recently recorded sharp growth of drug-addicts in the country, a group of medical products that can be used in making drugs at home were put on the list of narcotics and psychotropic substances in order to control their turnover. Another decision passed at the meeting approves the bill on amendments to the code of administrative offences. Its acceptance is necessitated by the fact that there is a legislative gap regarding the responsibility of such persons as administer medicines without the doctor’s prescription. These measures are expected to combat illegal circulation of those medicines due to be administered under a prescription and prosecute the responsible persons.
According to Tigran Sargsyan, numerous complaints have been received recently in connection with the given problem necessitating the passage of effective measures against this dangerous phenomenon.
The Government proposed a new legislative initiative concerning the law on VAT stating that VAT deferral for more than AMD 300mn worth of imports had already been accorded to 11 entities. This new amendment is aimed at encouraging private investments.
The Government next approved amendments to the law on uniform measurements due to which Armenia will considerably gain on its global competitiveness. The passage of this law was included in the President’s electoral program, too.
The meeting discussed and passed decisions on some 50 agenda items altogether.
