Thursday, 6 October 2011
Challenges Defied in Ararat Marz
Chaired by Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan, the government held today a visiting session in Artashat, the central town of Ararat marz.
The sitting started with Ararat marz Governor Edik Barseghyan’s report on social-economic situation in the first 8 months of 2011. He provided a per-sector breakdown of most burning issues available in the marz that as specified in the 2011-2014 program of social-economic development. The meeting heard and took note of the governor’s account, as well as of the summary report of the chief of government staff on processing and analysis of marz inhabitants’ petitions and grievances.
The government decided to release AMD 15mn for organization of festive events and advertising materials on the 2200th anniversary of Artashat town.
The meeting discussed and approved the order in which natural persons’ incomes will be estimated in Armenia. As commented by the Premier, Armenia’s 15 thousand civil servants will no longer be required to submit income declarations. Under the law, they will be asked to submit simplified income statements at yearend, if needed, with the focus to be shifted toward 500 top officials whose incomes will be subject to oversight by an ethics board due to be formed to that effect.
The government decided to extend until September 1, 2014 the VAT holiday accorded to TONUS-LES LLC for over 300mn dram worth of investment-induced imports of goods and equipments implemented between September 1, 2011 and August 1, 2012. The meeting endorsed the text of agreement to be signed between the company and the Ministry of Economy of the Republic of Armenia. Engaged in wholesale and retail marketing of pharmaceutical products, TONUS-LES LLC wishes to set up an internationally-acknowledged local expert lab in Armenia. The company is going to bring in state-of-the-art modern equipment and hire over 40 staff.
The Cabinet next decided to extend until March 4, 2012 the processing-related temporary import customs regime available to ASA-Compressor JV LLC. The decision was passed in a bid to improve the business environment and spur up exports.
The meeting amended 5 previous decrees on urban development activities to provide better conditions for license-seeking economic entities. The amendments imply that licensing requirements will be harmonized with the legislative ones.
Another decision was passed to address those inconsistencies opposing different legal acts that have to do with the list of such special facilities of primary importance as may be subject to complex expertise. The decision seeks to improve the business environment through enhanced investment.
In conclusion, the meeting endorsed a set of amendments to the following arrangements on cooperation in the CIS frameworks: enforcement of safety requirements at high-risk manufactures, hydrometeorology, cultural exchanges, re-classifying of former SU confidential documents, as well as on the order of surrender of narcotics, psychedelic drugs and their precursors.
