19 October 2009
The meeting with the members of the Consultative Council representing business-structures on the issue of the agenda for the 4-th Council meeting discussion was held at the Secretariat office.

The Chairman of National Association of Small and Medium sised Enterprises of Tajikistan (NASMET) — Ms. Uljabaeva, Chairman of Coordination Council of Business Associations and Public Unions of Tajikistan (CCBAPUT) — N. Zabirov, Chairman of Association of Banks of Tajikistan (ABT) — I. Lalbekov and Chairman of the Association of entrepreneurs and manufacturers of Tajikistan — Mr. Z. Saidov took part in the given meeting.

The participants have decided that at the 4-th Consultative Council meeting - Mr. N. Zabirov will summarize and provide the opinion of the business community on the matter of implementation of the Program «Improving business environment -200 days of reforms». Besides, the members of the Council representing business structures are also planning to provide their comments on some items of the Program. In this regard, the Head of the Secretariat suggested to participants to follow the interactive format of the Council's meetings.

Special attention of the participants was drawn to the question raised by Mr. Saidov on supporting local producers, based on item 6 of the Program. According to the entrepreneurs, to date there has not been yet developed a comprehensive approach by the Government, which would facilitate stable operations and innovative possibilities for local producers despite the fact that the issue of providing support to local producers was raised many times at the meetings, attended by the authorities and business enterprises. Single and uncoordinated measures undertaken by the Government for supporting local producers do not always motivate them.

For example: The Government reduced VAT for wheat import, which supposedly was to give a stimulus for the growth of this product‘s import into the country. But along with this, VAT for processing industry (processing of cereals) has not been cancelled. Eventually, this measure led to a situation when the entrepreneurs profited more by importing flour rather than have products processed at milling factories. The major consequence of this measure was that factories stopped operating and therefore were not able to provide jobs for people.

Another such example is the problem with a list of equipment exempted from VAT. This list includes tractors, but the spare parts are not included. As a result — the entrepreneurs are not interested in importing spare parts for tractors and opening repair centers as it is not profitable for them.

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