DUSHANBE, Asia-Plus April 17, Asia-Plus — The results of survey by International Finance Corporation (IFC) of the present system of granting permits for entrepreneurial activity in Tajikistan were presented in Dushanbe yesterday.
The source at the IFC Dushanbe Office said that during the presentation, which had been attended by representatives from the government bodies, international organizations, business community and media, there had been shown the problems that are arising during getting licensing documents in Tajikistan as well as international experience of reforming the permit issue system.
Speaking at the presentation ceremony, Ms. Madina Nourmatova, adviser to the IFC project for legal issues, noted that the survey had been conducted on the basis of studying the country’s legislation, polling representatives of ministries and organizations as well as entrepreneurs themselves. She added that they had also prepared recommendations for government institutions on improving the licensing system in Tajikistan.
The results of the survey have shown that some 40 percent of entrepreneurs in Tajikistan are confronted with difficulties on getting licensing documents and consider this procedure very complex. According to IFC estimates, the state spends more than 7 million somonis a year for functioning of licensing system.
According to specialists, the present Tajikistan’s licensing system is characterized by indistinct regulation of process of getting licensing documents and many official certificates.
The goal of the project that was launched in 2003 with financial support from the Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO) is to support the development of small and medium enterprises (SME) in Tajikistan by improving the business enabling environment, i.e. the institutional context in which businesses are started and operate. The project monitors the business environment by conducting regular surveys and collecting factual information throughout all regions of Tajikistan. Through the survey of business environment the project identifies policy actions aimed at improving regulations that impact the sector. The project provides technical support to the government to provide legislative changes and to implement them. The project develops an awareness campaign targeted on SMEs through the dissemination of information by mass media and by conducting trainings on legal issues, in particular rights and responsibilities of entrepreneurs.
