Tuesday, 18 October 2016
Tax and Customs Reform Agenda Discussed
Prime Minister Karen Karapetyan received Secretary General of the World Customs Organization Kunio Mikuriya, who is in Armenia to attend a European regional workshop entitled “The application of the one-stop-shop principle in the context of the WTO agreement on trade facilitation.”
Stressing the importance of holding the workshop in Yerevan, the Prime Minister expressed confidence that it would be another step on the way to providing more transparent and high-quality services.
Karen Karapetyan gave details of his government’s tax and customs administration simplification policy, emphasizing that the primary goal is to create equal, fair and competitive conditions for businesses. In this context, the Head of Government noted the importance of cooperation with the World Customs Organization, and underscored that the Yerevan workshop is an important platform for the stakeholders to discuss issues of topical interest.
Congratulating Karen Karapetyan on appointment, Kunio Mikuriya assured of his organization’s willingness to closely cooperate with the Government of Armenia. He noted that the World Customs Organization is set to expand bilateral cooperation, providing assistance in those sectors where it seems to be required most of all.
Kunio Mikuriya welcomed the introduction of the one-stop-shop principle and the use of information technology in tax and customs administration and the government’s drive to modernize border checkpoints with the help of the World Customs Organization.
The interlocutors exchanged views on the ongoing tax and customs reforms, the introduction of new technologies, the training and re-training of specialists and so forth. In conclusion, the parties reaffirmed their readiness to continue making joint efforts in the aforementioned areas in a bid to achieve tangible results.
