TIRANA, Dec. 4- The Chamber of Commerce and Industry has asked the government to undertake an amnesty for fiscal obligations. “We are determined partners in the government’s fight against informality and against fiscal evasion. In this context we think that it is time to consider the option of a fiscal amnesty in order to identify the gray economic areas and alleviate the weight carried by legitimate businesses. All business can thus join with dignity the serious, lawful community of enterprise which is not small in this country”, declared the Head of the Chamber, Gjok롕ldedaj.
This declaration was made during a conference that marks the first anniversary of the Interim Agreement between Albania and the EU. The idea is not new to the administration, and had also been suggested by former president Mejdani in 1999. Gjok롕ldedaj encouraged the reconsidering and implementation of the option in the light of recent developments in the business community. The larger debate is whether the amnesty will be complete or partial. Some economic experts believe it would be an unfair practice that would be definitely used for electoral purposes. In 2002, Vladimir Kvint, economics professor at American University in Washington, suggested to the Nano administration to declare a fiscal amnesty. Kvint had calculated that the capital that would be released into the market would be nearly $6 billion, which would double the GDP of that time. One year later in 2003, the Italian government of Berlusconi undertook such a fiscal amnesty for the legitimization of capital of 63 billion euros. Experts say that part of these funds included Albanian business revenues in the neighboring country.
Fair game in sale of public assets
Another important request presented by the business community is for the government to offer equal chances to local investors to participate in the privatization of large public assets, including strategic monopolies such as INSIG, KESH, ARMO, Albpetrol, and others. According to Uldedaj, there is no reason not to involve local businesses in the process because, during recent years the management capacities of Albanian entrepreneurs have approached international business standards. It was noted that the law on privatization discriminates positively towards foreign businesses when it comes to the sale of large strategic transactions.
