Federal Program For Development Of Small Entrepreneurship To Be Adopted In Russia In 2002

A federal targeted program for the development of small entrepreneurship will be adopted at the beginning of the year 2002, said Russian Vice Premier and Finance Minister Alexei Kudrin, speaking at the forum of the Association of Russian Entrepreneurial Organisations. He pointed out that in the last two years the Russian economy was developing rather stably, and the government would like to preserve the economic growth. With this aim in view the government is working at the creation of favorable conditions for business: for already two years now the taxes are being reduced and the tax policy is becoming simpler, the minister said. However, the main task of the government is to create common and stable rules of the game for all entrepreneurs. Touching upon the support of small business, Alexei Kudrin reminded the audience that the government ensured the passing through the State Duma (lower house of parliament) of a number of laws, including on protection of the rights of entrepreneurs with carrying out state supervision, on licensing, and on state registration. Thanks to the adoption of these laws, said the minister, the number of checking measures at enterprises and of the types of activities that are subject to being licensed is decreasing. At the beginning of 2002, the government will submit to the State Duma a chapter of the Tax Code which would regulate taxation of small business, said Alexei Kudrin. At the present time the Russian government is working out also a draft Law on the Fundamentals of Technical Regulation, Standardisation and Confirmation of Conformity which will help overcome redundant administrative barriers.