IFC supports Armenia’s efforts to improve investment environmentJune 28, 2011 - 18:17 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - International Finance Corporation (IFC), a member of the World Bank Group, is supporting the Armenian government’s efforts to make the country’s business inspections process more targeted, transparent, and efficient. According to IFC press service, new amendments to Armenia’s inspections law—incorporating IFC advice and adopted by the Armenian government on June 23—will enable the introduction of risk-based inspections that group businesses into three risk categories; high, moderate, and low-risk. The number of inspections for businesses in the low-risk category will be reduced significantly, saving businesses time and resources while making the inspection system more efficient. “These amendments are an important step in lowering the regulatory burden on businesses,” said Arsen Nazaryan, Project Manager of the IFC Armenia Doing Business Reform and Regulatory Simplification Project. “We look forward to continuing our close collaboration with Armenia’s Ministry of the Economy, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development and other partners to improve Armenia’s investment climate.” The IFC Armenia Regulatory Simplification – Doing Business Reform Project is run in partnership with the Austrian Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands , the Luxemburg Ministry of Finance, and the Consortium of Commercial Promotion of Catalonia. The project is part of IFC’s broader regional effort to help governments in Europe and Central Asia implement reforms that strengthen the small and medium business sector. Since Armenia became a member of IFC in 1995, IFC has invested $110 million in 24 projects across industries, including financial markets, general manufacturing, and mining. IFC Advisory Services provide advice through projects focusing on the financial sector, sustainable energy, and investment climate regulatory simplification. Top stories Yerevan has dismissed Turkey’s demand to shut down the Armenian nuclear power plant as “inappropriate”. Armenia will loan 2.9 billion drams to Nagorno Karabakh (Artsakh), according to a draft government decision. The Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources of Azerbaijan has “strongly condemned” Armenia’s decision. Kerobyan has said that for the first time in the history of Armenia, the volume of foreign direct investments amounted to about $1 billion. Partner news | The Power of One Dram to benefit Road of Life charity The companies inform that the May beneficiary of The Power of One Dram is the “Road of Life” charitable organization. Ucom General Director gives lecture at French University in Armenia The General Director of Ucom Ralph Yirikian delivered a lecture at the French University of Armenia. Kazakhstan welcomes Yerevan, Baku’s agreement to meet in Almaty Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has welcomed the agreement of Baku and Yerevan to hold negotiations in Almaty. Armenia offers to temporarily host, preserve Gaza manuscripts The Armenian Foreign Minister has said Yerevan is ready to help preserve manuscripts from the conflict zone in Gaza. |