Thursday, 14 June 2012
Business Environment Improves Consistently
A Cabinet sitting was held today, chaired by Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan.
In a bid to facilitate the licensing process, the government approved a set of amendments to the laws on licensing and State registration of property rights.
The meeting approved a package of amendments to the law on licensing fees and two other legal acts in order to streamline the approaches used in defining the payment rates and deadlines.
The above-mentioned bills are expected to improve the system of patenting and licensing fees.
In this connection, the Prime Minister made the following statement: “In fact, these two bills will significantly ease the burden providing more conveniences to our citizens. Should the National Assembly have no objections on the matter, we will put it on the agenda of the extraordinary meeting.”
The Executive approved another set of amendments to the laws on Lake Sevan and on establishing an annual action plan for Lake Sevan ecosystem restoration, preservation and reproduction efforts in a bid to ensure the supply of irrigation water to irrigated land in the Sevan-Hrazdan energy-irrigation network.
In this regard, Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan said an emergency situation has emerged due to lack of water: “Endangered is the farming complex in Ararat valley. Our estimates of the water demand for one hectare of irrigated land show that we will soon be short of water resources. Therefore, if we are to ensure normal supply of irrigation water, we must get the National Assembly’s approval for the use of additional 150 million cubic meters from Lake Sevan in order to have no problems in agriculture.”
The head of government suggested that the State Water Committee executives should take further action only after discussing the situation with the Vladimir Movsisyan-headed commission, considering the proposals voiced during joint consultations.
The above-mentioned bills will be submitted to the National Assembly in the manner established by law.
The Minister of Energy and Natural Resources was told to have AMD 76.659,904 settled in favor of Hayrusgasard CJSC out of the overdue retained earnings of the energy system-integrated public companies as a partly compensation for the amount of natural gas consumed by needy households in the period January-March, 2012, based on Hayrusgasard’s information
Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan reminded that the country’s political leadership has decided to continue this process: “People should know when they will be able to enjoy new privileges after they have fully used their share.”
The Premier was reassured by the heads of the ministries concerned that the lists have been duly finalized for 2012-2013 to feature only those households eligible for welfare social benefits.
Armenian Fruit OJSC was founded last November in a bid to introduce modern horticulture practices, export fresh fruit and nuts, as well as to promote Armenian products on the regional and international markets. Today’s meeting decided that the Company should be assigned farmland area as a follow-up on the Cabinet’s foregoing decision.
“This is a breakthrough project, expected to yield important results in terms of productivity. For the first time, modern technologies will be applied to ensure that ever more fruits are collected from a single hectare. I feel that this experience is to be extended to other spheres as well,” the Prime Minister said.
