ArmInfo.Armenia simplifies the licensing process for a number of activities for foreign companies. The National Assembly adopted relevant amendments to the RA Law on January 20 in the second and final reading.
As Minister of Economy of Armenia Vahan Kerobyan stated earlier, the process was initiated in order to make the participation of foreign companies in the Armenian economy more accessible. Thus, according to the studies of the department, 13 types of activities were recorded, in respect of which the licensing process for foreign companies can be simplified.
As a result, for legal entities from member countries of the Eurasian Economic Union, the EU, the USA, Canada, South Korea, China, Japan, the UK, Iran, the UAE, Georgia, the possibility of licensing in the following activities is simplified: private security activities, collection services, postal communication, nuclear or radioactive material devices, organization of railway transport activities, organization of passenger transportation by taxi from individual entrepreneurs and organizations. The process will also affect the types of activities licensed by the Urban Development Committee: development of engineering and urban planning documentation, examination of urban planning documentation, construction, technical quality control of construction, engineering survey and inspection of the technical condition of buildings and structures. "This will significantly improve the business environment in these areas and facilitate the activities of foreign companies in Armenia through a simplified licensing procedure," the Armenian Minister of Economy explained.
Yesterday, Kerobyan noted that in the period between the first and second readings, according to these legislative amendments, the provision was changed, according to which those foreign companies from the above-mentioned areas, which activities in their countries do not need a license, will also be able to work in similar areas in Armenia.
The opposition factions did not support the initiative. In particular, the representative of the Hayastan faction, Hripsime Stambulyan, stated that the legislative act was adopted in the interests of foreign companies and to the detriment of local businesses. "The priority for our country is security, and this law contains components of a threat to economic security," Stambulyan said.
