On June 17, 2014, the USAID-funded Tax Reform Project, in collaboration with the RA Ministry of Finance, organized an international conference on the subject of Tax Code development. The event brought together key Government of Armenia officials, donors, business representatives, academia, independent researchers, and civil society to discuss the preparatory work necessary to introduce a Unified Tax Code in Armenia. During the event, experts from the USAID Tax Reform Project presented international best practices for planning and implementing the reform, and discussed the challenges and the lessons learned. A representative from Georgia shared firsthand experience in drafting their Tax Code that was successfully enacted.
Hovik Abrahamyan, the Prime Minister of Armenia, presented the vision of Government for the introduction and implementation of the reform. Gagik Khachatryan, Minister of RA Finance, discussed the need for reform and appropriate steps in drafting the Code. During the conference, considerable attention was given to public-private dialogue. The importance of the private sector and civil society in participating in the reform process was emphasized throughout the conference.
US Ambassador John Heffern highlighted the development and introduction of the Code as an important effort that will improve the tax climate and business enabling environment.
# # #
The USAID-funded Tax Reform Project (TRP) is a four-year activity designed to help improve tax system in Armenia through its interventions aimed at increasing tax compliance while reducing the tax burden for individuals and businesses. The TRP assists the Ministry of Finance in the formulation of effective tax policies in accordance with international standards and best practices. It also helps the Ministry to administer tax laws and implement modern information technology. In a close collaboration with the Government of Armenia, the private sector, and civil society, the project helps improve interaction and discourse on tax policy and administration issues through public-private dialogue (PPD).
