Thursday, 11 February 2016
Government Approves Business Environment Improvement Program for 2016
A regular Cabinet meeting was held today, chaired by Prime Minister Hovik Abrahamyan.
The meeting approved Armenia’s business environment improvement program for the year 2016. The 2015 action plan revealed the need to improve the business environment, for which speedy reforms have to be implemented in our country with a view to enhancing Armenia’s competitiveness on the global marketplace and improve Armenia’s position in the World Bank’s Doing Business report.
A number of activities have been planned under the program to simplify the administrative procedures applicable to startup businesses, promote the growth of SMEs, boost foreign trade turnover, implement a balanced tax policy, etc.
The Government made a decision to increase management efficiency in the irrigation sector, as well as to provide for the design of documents necessary for implementation and financing of capital repairs at the damaged sections of Arpa-Sevan Tunnel N2.
Commenting on the decision, the Prime Minister emphasized that there is a lot to do with Arpa-Sevan tunnel so that greater amounts of water could be funneled to Lake Sevan. The Head of Government said that after a consultation held with the President of the Republic of Armenia he had instructed those responsible to launch the repair work as soon as possible.
The Cabinet passed another resolution to ensure that the Prime Minister’s directive of January 8, 2016 might be competed by this March 31, as well as to achieve higher standards in the development of expertise, copyright and oversight-related documentation necessary for the implementation of construction activities.
The decision envisages a simplified procurement process for the development of cost estimates for such facilities. In addition, it stipulates that design work for projects worth under AMD 50 million should be organized and carried out by regional administrations.
Welcoming this approach of the Ministry of Urban Development, the Prime Minister stressed that the decentralization of powers will allow local government authorities to participate in project development processes.
The Government established the level of financing for the program of provision of academic materials and teaching aids for Diaspora-based educational institutions in 2016. The program seeks to meet the demand for teaching materials in more than 350 conventional and 600 Sunday schools operating in the Diaspora. Another decision was passed to endorse the Diaspora Summer School-2016 Program.
In conclusion, the Government approved a proposal to sign tourism cooperation, investment encouragement and mutual protection agreements with the Government Montenegro.
