ArmInfo. Eduard Hakobyan, Chairman of the State Revenue Committee (SRC), received Marine Legard, the newly appointed Head of Programs for the French Development Agency (AFD) in Armenia.
According to the SRC press service, Hakobyan praised the successes already achieved in cooperation with AFD and expressed hope for continued active collaboration.
The parties discussed the need for new technical assistance aimed at improving tax and customs administration, as well as possible areas for further cooperation. Particular attention was paid to the continuity of assistance provided in developing gambling activities, studying best international practices in the taxation of cryptocurrencies and bloggers, developing capacity to combat smuggling, and implementing innovative technologies (AI, chatbots) to improve taxpayer services.
Potential areas for the development of policy-based lending were also discussed, including within the framework of the SRC's new tax and customs strategies. The meeting also featured a presentation on ongoing taxpayer awareness efforts, including measures taken as part of the annual income declaration process.
As noted on the AFD's official website, the French Development Agency (AFD) was founded in 1941 and is the world's oldest development bank. Created by General de Gaulle, leader of the Free French movement during World War II, it was originally called the Central Case for Free France (CCFL) and financed the resistance movement against Nazi Germany. More than 80 years later, the AFD group's mandate has expanded and currently covers over 4,000 projects in 160 countries.
Armenia is among 60 countries monitored by AFD economists who analyze country risks. Their assessments shed light on the economic trajectory of countries, as well as their macroeconomic and financial situation. The AFD Group, which has been operating in Armenia since 2013, finances projects that contribute to the fight against climate change and ensure just and inclusive transitions. "We support the sustainable management and conservation of natural resources, the energy transition, public finance management, and urban services," AFD notes.
