YEREVAN, APRIL 12, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister Karen Karapetyan received the delegation led by Chief of International Monetary Fund (IMF) Mission to Armenia Hossein Samiei, press service of the Government told Armenpress.

The sides discussed summary review results of Armenia’s program with the IMF, speaking about Armenia’s macroeconomic figures and economic development trends, improvement of business environment, attracting foreign direct investments, as well as issues related to fiscal and monetary policy.

Hossein Samiei said they have received positive signals over the Government’s activity led by Karen Karapetyan and one of them relates to changes made in tax and customs field aimed at cutting the shadow, improving the administration. He said it is necessary to continue efforts aimed at expanding the tax network for more effectively fighting against the shadow. “We attach importance to the issue of attracting foreign direct investments and we are happy that the Government is already taking steps on this path. We have met with the representatives of the Center for Strategic Initiatives and it was good to see that active measures are being taken aimed at improving the business environment, contributing to attracting new investments”, Hossein Samiei said.

The Prime Minister attached importance to the mutual cooperation with the IMF and thanked for the assistance provided so far, as well as talked about the Government’s future plans. Karen Karapetyan said the second round of reforms in tax and customs field will launch, and the Government is going to be consistent on this issue.

“Besides that we have a quantitative increase in own revenues, we have also recorded a qualitative change in this field, a shadow is brought to tax field, we have refused from prepayments. A number of decisions concerning the VAT return were also adopted, the return period has been reduced. Our goal is to expand the tax field, install fair principles in the SRC system. We are decisive and are confident that we will achieve our goal”, the PM said, adding that the Government also takes measures aimed at attracting foreign investments. He said the Government is consistent on the 2017 state budget performance. “We understand very well today’s situation and we tend to make reforms in all sectors since we have a performance deficit. In near future we are going to develop Armenia’s 5-year development program where we as well want to outline bold steps”, the PM said.

Hossein Samiei welcomed Armenian Government’s commitment to make reforms and stated that the IMF is ready to show necessary assistance for their implementation.