OSCE Office supports guide for SMEs on recent tax changes in Armenia

YEREVAN, 7 October 2008 - A simplified tax guidebook explaining recent legislation affecting small and medium-sized enterprises (SME), supported by the OSCE Office in Yerevan, was presented in Yerevan today.

The guidebook, developed by a group of experts representing relevant government agencies and business associations, chaired by the Small and Medium Entrepreneurship Development National Centre of Armenia, provides a comprehensive explanation of the amendments to the laws on value-added tax, profit tax, income tax, accounting and other areas of concern.

"We welcome the recent initiative of the government, which will increase the number of SMEs eligible to benefit from the simplified tax system, thus supporting an important part of the Armenian economy. The initiative will also support the government's anti-corruption policy," said Ambassador Sergey Kapinos, Head of the OSCE Office in Yerevan.

The launch of the guidebook will be followed by a series of specialized training courses to be held in Armenia's regions, with the participation of the OSCE Programme Implementation Presence in Syunik region and the OSCE-sponsored anti-corruption reception centres network.

"Through joint efforts like these, we believe that the government will be able to ensure more business-friendly tax policies and reach the ambitious target set by the Prime Minister, which is to turn Armenia into a regional centre of excellence for doing business," said Economy Minister Nerses Yeritsyan.