Business expects new economic policies

Albanian businesses are expecting many changes in economic policies, whoever comes out ahead in the parliamentary elections on the 28th of June 2009, writes Gazeta Ballkan (23.06.2009). The American Chamber of Commerce has recently submitted a questionnaire to its members, asking about expectations regarding the future government and what entrepreneurs think is important to improve the business climate in the country. Member companies are reported to have responded overwhelmingly to the survey with their opinions. Among the essential requests and expectations are a reduction of the Value Added Tax (VAT) and the fall out of use of the reference pricing systems, seating the basis for taxation on the prices as expressed by contract and not on a reference-pricing system.
Businesses participating in the questionnaire expect an alleviation of the customs’ procedures and a clear strategy for stimulating exports to improve the business climate and business development. They think that the problem of ownership title on land must be urgently resolved. Questioned businesses also expect the future government to alleviate procedures of taxation or imposition, among which are listed tax pre-payment as well as VAT reimbursement schemes.
Other concerns expressed by the surveyed businesses include the establishment of an Administrative Court and a more engaged fight against corruption, especially in the tax and customs’ administration.