By Andrei Krivosheev: The liberation and stimulation of business initiative became the main topic of a meeting held with the participation of the President. A package of documents on the simplification of business in Belarus has already been approved. By 1 October, the documents will be the finalized.
The new systematic Code fundamentally changes business atmosphere in the country. The state does not leave the economy, but the long-awaited "area of low pressure" for business and increased social responsibility of entrepreneurs is formed over the whole country.
The new documents include several revolutionary initiatives, such as:
1. Notification registration for 95% of the areas of application of small and medium businesses – from tourism to public catering and building materials. Once a businessman submits the documents (including on-line) – they can start working.
2. A single laconic list of requirements of inspectors from environmentalists to firefighters and sanitary service – the list has become 10 times shorter.
3. A three-year moratorium on the introduction of new and increasing existing taxes. Also, fines and penalties can be postponed, too – to compensate for the budget losses.
4. Administrative liability for deliberate harm to the enterprise is introduced. The penalty is from 10 to 100 basic amounts.
5. Full introduction of the electronic digital signature instead of classic seals, which results is less bureaucracy and paper work.
6. Elimination of the system of planned inspections and abolition of departmental control, as well as the introduction of administrative liability of the inspectors themselves for gross violations.
7. Reduction of licensed activities by more than 10%. It is planned to reduce 4 types of activities and 21 components. In addition to that, the transition from 1 July, 2018 to electronic licenses that can be checked on-line by anyone.
8. Establishment of the Chamber of Tax Consultants as official and competent intermediaries between business and taxation.
The president as the initiator of these large-scale innovations points out that at the heart of the new system of checks is the desire to give each person the right to work proactively for themselves.
The Code gives business a credit here, too. The authorities and society count on the responsibility and decency of businessmen. Any attempt on the part of business to play a monopoly or worse – oligarchy – with the society will first of all hit the businessmen themselves.
Both business and state administrations of all levels understands the message of the President. Business environment understands the value of peace and social justice in the state. After all, with the example of neighbors, it is evident that the heads and capitals of entrepreneurs are the first to break in the event of a collapse.
Thus, on 1 October, a massive improvement of the business climate in the sphere of inspections and control will be implemented.
