Tuesday, 6 March 2018
Import-Export Declarations to be Submitted through Single Electronic Platform
A Cabinet sitting was held today, chaired by Prime Minister Karen Karapetyan. Before proceeding to the agenda, the Prime Minister issued a number of instructions.
The Premier first instructed to revise the planning scheme for the procurement of specific goods. The Prime Minister gave the Minister of Finance two months to work our in cooperation with the heads of government agencies and post on the official website of the Ministry of Finance sample specifications for about 20-30 basic products, one month - to develop and publish on the website of the Ministry of Finance the single unit of measurement for each product type, except for the pharmaceuticals; 2 months - to draft jointly with the Minister Healthcare and post on the respective websites the single unit of measurement for drugs.
The Premier’s next instruction was about the Trade.gov.am unified electronic platform. Karen Karapetyan tasked the Ministers of Economic Development and Investment, Agriculture, Transport, Communication and Information Technology, Nature Protection and Healthcare, as well as the Head of State Revenue Committee and the Executive Director of the Digital Armenia Foundation, and proposed to the President of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry to work out and submit to the Government Staff within 2 months a joint action plan for enabling electronic services through a single Trade.gov.am platform in implementing the preliminary stage of declaration and examination of import and export documents, granting permits for foreign economic activities and provide guarantees for public agencies’ simplified and transparent proceedings.
Karen Karapetyan’s third assignment had to do with the promotion of leasing activities. He instructed the Minister of Economic Development and Investments to develop and submit within a month’s time to the Government Staff proposals on legislative amendments aimed at developing leasing activities by addressing the existing deficiencies and introducing a system of incentives.
The Government approved a program for completing the construction of semi-finished buildings in Armenia. The program will provide a legal basis for incorporating such buildings and facilities in rural development programs, as well as in private housing projects funded from private investment projects, grants or other sources.
With a view to facilitating the sale of property subject to disposal and creating an online platform, the Government amended one of the previous decisions. An online platform for sale of State-owned assets shall be set up to provide the necessary conditions for property purchase.
The meeting made a decision to gradually introduce the arrangement of prescription-based drug dispensing. Accordingly, the preceding government decision on the form and procedure for issuing prescriptions and dispensing drugs (including electronically), as well as determining the procedure for medicines and drugs registration will be suspended until October 1, 2018, while the decision relating to injection drugs will be suspended until July 1, 2018, except for narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances, as well as the drugs dispensed free of charge or under privileged conditions, such as acupuncture medicines, acute drugs, anti-inflammatory drugs, anti-inflammatory drugs, immune serums, immune globulins and vaccines.
The Government approved an investment program for creating a mountain-skiing center in Lori Marz of Armenia and, to this end, passed a decision on implementation of a preliminary survey of property subject to alienation for public needs. The reference note says that in order to invest up to 30 billion drams in Antarashen and Lermontovo communities of Lori Marz, Ecosign international organization has already been selected to design the master plan. The ski resort will extend on an area of 584 hectares. Three cableways and ski tracks will be built under the project.
The Government next approved a decision “On visa requirement exemption for citizens of the Australian Union, New Zealand, Singapore and the Republic of Korea.” The decision will allow the citizens of the aforementioned States to visit and stay in the territory of the Republic of Armenia for a maximum of 180 days within a year without having to ask for an entry visa.
The Executive agreed to sign an agreement on “Promotion and Mutual Protection of Investments between the Government of the Republic of Armenia and the Government of the United Mexican States.”
The document features articles on encouragement and protection of investments, damage compensation, alienation of and compensation for assets, disputes settlement and a number of other provisions.
In conclusion, the Government decided that the April 2 business day shall be transferred to the Saturday of April 7.
