Minutes of the ninght meeting of the Consultative Council on improvement of investment climate under the President of the Republic of Tajikistan
(dated 10 April, 2010)

Chairperson:

 President of Republic of Tajikistan   -  Emomali Rakhmon

MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL:

 Prime-Minister of the Republic of Tajikistan  -  Okilov Okil

Chairman of the State Committee on Investment and State Property Management

of the Republic of Tajikistan (Executive Secretary of the Council)   - Saidov Davlatali                          

Head of Resident Office of European Bank for Reconstruction and Development in Tajikistan  -  Ulf Hindstrom

Director, Swiss Cooperation Office in Tajikistan  -  Piter Micula

Chairman of the Union of Entrepreneurs and Exporters of Tajikistan  -  Zabirov Nekruy

Chairman of Public Fund “Internet”  -   Kosimov Rustam

Chairman of the National Association of Business Woman of Tajikistan -  Makhkamova Gulbakhor

Head of the OJSC “Agriculture Industry Enterprise Guliston”  -    Hakimov Sanginmurod

Board Director of LLC “Jinfeng Tajikistan”  -   Tan Shan Fu

Head of the Secretariat of the Consultative Council  -   Zavkiev Zavkijon

INVITEES:

 Head of the Executive Office of the President of the Republic of Tajikistan   Davlatov Matlubkhon

Head of Economy and Finance Department of Majlisi Oli of Tajikistan      Rajabov Safarali

State Advisor to the President of the Republic of Tajikistan on Economy Policy     Khamraliev Farrukh

Minister of Economy Development and Trade of the Republic of Tajikistan    Sharif Rahimzoda

Minister of Finance of the Republic of Tajikistan    Najmuddinov Safarali

Minister of Agriculture of Tajikistan    Kosimov Kosim

Deputy Head of the National Bank of Tajikistan   Yusufiyon Djamshed

Head of the Tax Committee under the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan  Davlatov Nusratullo

Head of the Customs Department under the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan   Zaripov Gurez

First Deputy Chairman of the State Committee on Investment and State Property Management

of the Republic of Tajikistan     Rakhmatboev Shukhratjon

Deputy Chairman of the State Committee on Investment and State Property Management

of the Republic of Tajikistan     Makhkamova Manzura

Head of Department of economic reforms and investment of the Executive Office of the

President of the Republic of Tajikistan    Sangov Odil

 Head of Finance Department of the Executive Office of the President of the Republic

of Tajikistan                Djabborov Odil

Head of Khatlon Oblast     Avzalov Gaybullo

Head of Press-service of the President of the Republic of Tajikistan     Sharifzoda Abdufattoh

Head of the Department on Fighting Against Customs Crimes of the Customs Service

under the Government of Tajikistan      Rustami Emomali

General Director of OJSC “Pamir Energy”         Djumaev Daler

Dushanbe Centre for Support and Development of Entrepreneurship   Kodirov Mirali

Head of LLC “Equt – 2000”     Kodirov Abduhalim

Representative of Asian Development Bank in Tajikistan     Joji Tokeshi

Head of Representation of World Bank in Tajikistan    Marsha Olive

UN Coordinator in Tajikistan, Head of Representation of UN Development Program in Tajikistan    Alexander Zuev

 Ambassador, Head of Delegation of the European Union to Tajikistan    Eduard Auer

Head of Representation of International Monetary Fund    Ari Aisen

 Head of Representation Office of International Financial Corporation in Tajikistan    Christopher Miller

Head of the United State Agency for International Development in Tajikistan    Jeffrey Lehrer

 Head of the German Agency for International Cooperation in Tajikistan    Stefan Erber

On April 10, 2012 the ninth session of the Сonsultative Council on Improvement of Investment Climate had taken place under Chairmanship of the President of Tajikistan, Chairman of the Council, H.E. Emomali Rahmon.

In the beginning of the meeting, President of the country, Chairman of the Investment Council H.E. Emomali Rahmon had introduced a new Head of the Secretariat of the Council Mr. Zavkidjon Zavkiev and new members of the Council from representatives of domestic private sector - General Director of OJSC "Pamir-Energy" Mr. Daler Djumaev, Chairman of Union of Business Associations of Sogd Province Mrs. Masuda Turaeva, Chairman of Association of Microfinancial Organizations of Tajikistan Mr. Farhod Akbarov, and also from foreign investors - General Director of HPP “Sangtuda-1" Mr. Gennady Rugin.

The report of Executive Secretary of the Council, Chairman of State Committee on Investment and Management of State Property of the Republic of Tajikistan Mr. Davlatali Saidov on results of monitoring of implementation of decisions of the Council had been heard. It had been noticed that on the basis of decisions of 7th and 8th sessions of the Council, Government Resolution of the Republic of Tajikistan dated December 3, 2011, №585 «On Introduction of Amendments to Tax Code of the Republic of Tajikistan» and Law of the Republic of Tajikistan «On Introduction of Amendments to Custom Code of the Republic of Tajikistan» had been developed and approved by Majlisi Nomoyndagon Majlisi Oli of the Republic of Tajikistan.

A Working Group from representatives of the Government and Private Sector had been established under the State Committee on Investment and Management of State Property of the Republic of Tajikistan for the purpose of drafting Laws of the Republic of Tajikistan «On Public-Private Partnership», «On Mining» and «Programs on Improvement of Investment Climate in Mining sector».

One of the major themes of today's session was discussion of process of drafting a new Tax Code of the Republic of Tajikistan. Chairman of State Commission on Drafting a new Tax Code, Minister of Finance Mr. Safarali Najmuddinov briefed the Council on this issue.

Representatives of the private sector-Chairman of the Union of Business Associations Mr. Nekruj Zabirov and General Director of OSC "Ёкут-2000" Mr. Abduhalim Kodirov actively participated in the discussion of new Tax Code. In their views, existing problems concerning heavy tax burden and tax administration for entrepreneurs were not removed from the proposed draft of new Tax Code.

In this connection, representatives of private sector had suggested in a new Tax Code to take into account measures on elimination of existing problems for taxpayers, simplification of procedures, improvement of tax administration, avoiding references to other legislative acts, and reduction of number and rates of taxes.

On this issue, Chairman of the Council, President of the Republic Tajikistan H.E. Emomali Rahmon had emphasized that revenue to the government budget should not be raised by an increase in tax rates, but through an increase in number of taxpayers, that is entrepreneurs, expansion of tax base, stimulation of entrepreneurs’ initiatives, fulfilling tax obligations at highest level and narrowing shadow economy. Accordingly, reduction of less effective expenditures in the government budget would be useful. In general, a taxation system should be established in such a way that on the one hand could provide the Government and society with financial resources and on the other hand could stimulate business development.

In this connection, Government of the Republic Tajikistan was advised to review and modify the proposed draft of the new Tax Code taking into account views of entrepreneurs, investors, ministries, government agencies and other taxpayers.

Also the President of the country, Chairman of the Council H.E. Emomali Rahmon had instructed in three months to prepare an analysis of positive and negative impact of the new Tax Code on the government budget, economic activity of private sector and social sustainability of people of the country in comparison with existing Tax Code of the Republic Tajikistan by independent experts, including with attraction of foreign experts.

It is worthwhile to note that at the moment public private dialogue also is developing at regional level, specifically Investment Councils were established in Sogd, Khatlon Pamir provinces. With regard to this, at today's session of the Council Governor of Khatlon, Chairman of the province’s Investment Council Mr. Gaibullo Avzalov briefed members of the Investment Council on development of investment and business climate in the province.

“ The business climate in the province has been improving over the last years. Only in 2011, 42 new industrial enterprises were established. However, in line with this, the most part of economic capacity of the province remains unutilized by local entrepreneurs and foreign investors. Resolving issues that create obstacles to economic development of the province should be a key priority of the Investment Council under the Governor of Khatlon province” – noted the President of the country.

At the end of the meeting  President of the Republic of Tajikistan delivered a final speech, in which various important instructions were given to relevant ministries and agencies. The President of the country instructed to prepare a draft Law “On Public Private Partnership”, recommendations on simplification of administrative procedures for investors, analysis of elimination of additional barriers to entrepreneurs operating on the basis of licences, and also to consider other issues on development of investment and business by next sessions of the Investment Council.