Yerevan, April 14. /Arka/. Steps to ensure equal competition and put an end to “patronage” in business are being made in Armenia, RA President Robert Kocharyan stated at his meeting with the members of the newly elected Presidium of the Union of Manufacturers and Businessmen of Armenia (UMBA). The RA presidential press service reports that as an instance the RA President cited inspections of tax and customs sphere conducted by the Presidential Supervisory Service to ascertain interrelated persons in business. “The most simple and efficient means here is ensuring transparency, which reveal all deviations and makes struggle more effective,” Kocharyan said.He pointed out the importance of businessmen proposing mechanisms of accomplishing this task. The meeting participants also discussed problems of ensuring equal competition in business, encouraging local producers, especially their export activities, softening effects of exchange rate fluctuations.
Addressing the problem of taxation of the import of production equipment, President Kocharyan pointed out that, considering the urgency of this issue, he issued relevant instructions to the establishment in charge of the economic sector. Kocharyan said that a package of proposals is currently under preparation, which envisages new solutions and is being discussed with international financial organizations. Kocharyan assured the businessmen that the possibilities of resolving all the problems raised at the meeting will be thoroughly discussed and most effective will be selected. President Kocharyan wished success to the businessmen, pointing out that simultaneously with developing their business they should pay more attention to their tax commitments.