Armenia drops 6 notches in World Bank’s Doing Business reportOctober 24, 2019 - 10:56 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Armenia dropped 6 notches in the World Bank’s Doing Business 2020 survey to stand at 47 among 190 countries. The country had improved its standing by 6 spots. The recent Doing Business covers reforms affecting all sets of indicators included in this year’s report, implemented from June 2017 to May 2018. In particular, the following were named as reforms making it easier to do business in Armenia: - Armenia strengthened construction quality control by imposing stricter qualification requirements for architects and engineers. - Armenia strengthened minority investor protections by requiring an independent review and immediate disclosure to the public of related-party transactions, increasing shareholders’ rights and role in major corporate decisions, and clarifying ownership and control structures. - Armenia made paying taxes easier by extending value added tax cash refunds to cases of capital investment. - Armenia made exporting faster by allowing the online submission of customs declarations. Meanwhile, neighboring Georgia and Azerbaijan come in the 7th and 34th, respectively. Russia is placed 28th, the United Iran is on the 127th position, while Turkey is the 33rd. Top stories The number of state universities will be reduced from 23 to 8 by 2030, Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sport Zhanna Andreasyan has said. From September 21 to November 11, a total of 2,820 Russians registered at a place of residence in Armenia, the police has said. The situation on the contact line between Karabakh and Azerbaijan was relatively stable overnight, the Defense Army says. Defense Minister Suren Papikyan has visited the southern Armenian province of Syunik, the Defense Ministry reported on March 18. Partner news | Titus, Bilirakis lead legislation to sanction Azerbaijani war criminals Representatives Dina Titus (D-NV) and Gus Bilirakis (R-FL) have introduced the bipartisan legislation. Azerbaijan must respect human rights, Scholz tells Aliyev German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has called for greater respect for human rights in Azerbaijan. Scholz hopes Armenia-Azerbaijan peace treaty will be signed this year German Chancellor Olaf Scholz hopes that a peace treaty between Armenia and Azerbaijan will be signed this year. Ucom equips four bus stops in Ijevan with free Wi-Fi Ucom now provides free Wi-Fi coverage in smart bus stops in four communities of Ijevan. |