Commenting on strengthening of control over major taxpayers, Armenian Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan said that along with the macroeconomic growth, Armenia’s economy should be improved also at microlevel.

“We do not facilitate the economic micro-environment through increasing the number of inspections, we only incite discontent of tens of thousands businessmen with the government, which does not keep its promises,” the Prime Minister said during the April 15 session of the government.

He added that Armenia’s economic growth is secured due to competent macroeconomic policy pursued by the government.

Mr. Sargsyan noted that personal relations between representatives of tax services and businessmen should be minimized in the framework of reforms implemented by the government.

“The results of inspections carried out by tax bodies in 2008-2009 show that their number has not decreased for small and medium businesses, from which major part of complaints is received, as large businesses can resist inspections,” he said.

Mr. Sargsyan added that the total number of inspections increased by 82% in 2009, while the additional funds obtained through them decreased by 25%, and these figures “raise concern.”

The Prime Minister stressed that there are some deviations in the figures, specifically, the number of inspections at large businesses increased by 30% in 2009, at taxpaying companies with AMD 58mln annual turnover – by 70%, at other companies – by 250%, while the additional funds gained as a result of inspections reduced by 2-3 times.