IFC Partners with Tajikistan’s Government to Improve the Business Enabling Environment for Small and Medium Enterprises
In Moscow
Ilya Sverdlov
Phone: +7 495 411 7555
Email: isverdlov@ifc.org
Dushanbe, November 14, 2006—The
Prime Minister of the Republic of Tajikistan, Akil Akilov, today signed
a memorandum of understanding with the International Finance Corporation
aimed at improving the regulatory environment for Tajikistan’s small and
medium enterprises. The memorandum outlines a strategy for collaboration
between the government and IFC to improve legislation that regulates SME
activities, engage state agencies in developing best practices and training
modules for state employees, and provide ongoing information to entrepreneurs
and the general public about legislative changes that impact the business
activities of SMEs.
“With the signing of this memorandum we confirm our government’s commitment
to working with IFC to support the growth of Tajikistan’s small and medium
enterprises,” said Prime Minister Akilov. “The government is dedicated
to building an open dialogue between government and the private sector
and to identifying and removing administrative and regulatory barriers
that may hinder private sector development.”
This milestone is a result of a three-year effort on the part of IFC’s
Small and Medium Enterprises Policy Project, financed by Switzerland’s
State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (seco). Beginning in 2003, the project
surveyed 2000 entrepreneurs throughout Tajikistan to assess the country’s
business enabling environment for SMEs. This was the first survey of its
kind conducted in Tajikistan. The results, shared with government
agencies and policymakers, provided the basis for developing policies aimed
at improving the country’s inspection systems for SMEs. As a direct outcome
of this work, the Law on Inspections of Business Entities’ Activity was
signed by President Emomali Rahmonov on July 28, 2006. It is aimed at significantly
decreasing the inspections of SMEs conducted by state authorities.
The signing of the memorandum of understanding launches the next phase
of the project, during which IFC will continue to strengthen collaboration
with government agencies and legislators to implement the new law on inspections
and improve the permits system for SMEs.
“In the next two years, we expect to see significant improvements in the
country’s business enabling environment, especially in the areas of inspections
and permits, which will help entrepreneurs launch new businesses and enable
existing businesses to grow,” said Andrea Dall’Olio, project manager
for IFC.
Continued improvements in private sector development in Tajikistan are
a top priority for the government of Switzerland, according to Irene Leibundgut,
program manager for seco. “The signing of this memorandum, which
will improve the regulatory environment for Tajikistan’s SMEs, is an important
step in achieving this goal. I am very impressed by the Tajik government’s
dedication to this initiative,” she said.
Present at the signing ceremony, which took place at the presidential palace
in Dushanbe, were Tajikistan’s Ministers of Economy, Finance, Interior,
and Health; the Deputy Director of the Antimonopoly Agency; the Deputy
Minister of State Duties and Revenues; the Deputy Chair of the National
Bank of Tajikistan, and the Special State Advisor on Economic Policy to
Emomali Rahmonov, President of Tajikistan.
About IFC
The International Finance Corporation, the private sector arm of the World
Bank Group, is the largest multilateral provider of financing for private
enterprise in developing countries. IFC finances private sector investments,
mobilizes capital in international financial markets, facilitates trade,
helps clients improve social and environmental sustainability, and provides
technical assistance and advice to businesses and governments. From its
founding in 1956 through FY06, IFC has committed more than $56 billion
of its own funds for private sector investments in the developing world
and mobilized an additional $25 billion in syndications for 3,531 companies
in 140 developing countries. With the support of funding from donors, it
has also provided more than $1 billion in technical assistance and advisory
services. For more information, visit www.ifc.org.
About SECO
The State Secretariat for Economic Affairs is the Swiss Confederation's
competence center for all the core issues related to the economic policy.
It aims to create the basic regulatory and economic policy conditions to
enable business to flourish for the benefit of all. It also represents
Switzerland in the large multilateral trade organizations and international
negotiations and is involved in efforts to improvement of living
conditions and help developing countries with transition economies build
sustainable democratic societies and viable market economies. Each year
Switzerland spends about 1.9 billion Swiss francs on development cooperation
and transition assistance to countries.
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