President Emomali Rahmon took part in the 20th Session of the Consultative Council on Improvement of the Investment Climate that took place here on February 12.

According to the Tajik president’s official website, the main point of the session related to the implementation of decisions of 19th session, results of the analysis of cluster development in the agro-industrial complex and issues of draft agenda for the next session of the Consultative Council.

Speaking at the session, Emomali Rahmon reportedly raised a number of issues related to the improvement of the country's position in the Doing Business report, modernization of public services for businesses with utilization of electronic documentation, simplification of business activities and provision of a favorable investment climate in the country, activities of regional Consultative Councils and activity assessment of regional, city and district executive authorities on improvement of investment and business climate, increasing employment opportunities, encouraging private investments, conduction of national rating, establishing a single window for export-import operations, provision of high-quality internet connection for introduction of electronic public services, establishment and development of value-added chain of final products in the agro-industrial sector of the country.

Farrukh Hamralizoda, the Council’s Executive Secretary also Head of the State Committee on Investment and State-owned Property Management (GosKomInvest) reported on the results of the implementation of decisions of the 19th session.  He, in particular, noted that Tajikistan became one of top ten reformer countries in the world, and improved its rank in the World Bank Doing Business Report 2020, climbing 20 points to the 106th place among 190 nations.

He also briefed those present on the extension of the period of simplified taxation - 5% VAT for private educational facilities and 7% VAT for constructional activity until December 2023, exemption from VAT, road users tax, real estate tax and land tax for poultry, fishery and mixed poultry and livestock production facilities as well as exemption from VAT on import of technology, equipment and raw materials for poultry farming, fishery and import of goods used for direct activity for facilities in these sectors, adoption of the procedure for exemption from VAT and customs duties import of raw materials for processing and production of final products, exemption of state fee for registration for business entities starting from January, 2020 and abolishment of all taxes and registration fees for entrepreneurs manufacturing common consumption goods according to the list in the law amendment, abolishment of 1% income tax for enterprises, launch of the "Single Window, Monitoring and City Planning Cadaster" in Dushanbe, introduction of online application submission for getting technical conditions in connection to power supply network starting from March 1, 2019 and consideration of these applications within 10 days.

Concerning the second issue of the session, Minister of Agriculture Amonullo Salimzoda presented results of an analysis of cluster development in agro-industry sector, in particular draft of the concept and action plan on the development of agro-industrial clusters and inclusion of Global GAP standards.

On the last issue, Minister of Industry and New Technologies Zarobiddin Faizullozoda proposed for discussion the analysis of the conditions of country's industry and discovering new opportunities to enhance the sector capacity during the next session, which was supported by council members.

The Chairman of the Coordination Council of Development Partners, the World Bank Country Manager in Tajikistan Jan-Peter Olters, head of the German Agency for International Cooperation in Tajikistan Sabine Olthof, Representative of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations in Tajikistan Oleg Guchgeldiyev, Member of the Consultative Council, Director of Resandai Tojikiston Ravzabonu Nematulloyeva, Chairman of the National Association of Milk and Dairy Products Producers of Tajikistan Umed Shomurodov and others, also expressed their opinions and considerations.