Almost 50% of Armenian SMEs find the government's support unsatisfactory - survey
03.09.2015,
17:32
A survey conducted among several focus groups 20 days ago showed that almost 50% of Armenian SMEs find the government's support unsatisfactory, Gagik Makaryan, the chairman of the Republican Union of Employers of Armenia, told journalists on Thursday.
YEREVAN, September 3. /ARKA/. A survey conducted among several focus groups 20 days ago showed that almost 50% of Armenian SMEs find the government's support unsatisfactory, Gagik Makaryan, the chairman of the Republican Union of Employers of Armenia, told journalists on Thursday.
IT and engineering companies, food and alcohol producers, travel companies and the companies that are under the process of closure have been surveyed.
«All the studies show that the government’s strategy in the last few years had no significant positive impacts on companies, and more than half of respondents called it unsatisfactory,» Makaryan said.
He said that many companies are in a desperate state and many are on the brink of closure because they are badly in want of financial resources.
«The government should work out support programs, solve the corruption problem and create equal conditions in the economy,» Makaryan said. «Today unequal competition has various symptoms, such as unequal tax inspections, problems with customs procedures and the pressure large businesses put upon on small and mid-scale businesses.»
Presenting other results of the study, Makaryan said 23% of respondents pointed out 2009 as the best year for SMEs, and afterward things started worsening.
«In the last year or yea and half, SMEs satisfaction degree rose to 20%, but it is not enough, there are still many unsolved problems,» he said. «Besides, it is necessary to leave legal preferences in force for a few years to achieve significant effect.»
Some 70,000 small and medium companies operated in Armenia in June 2015 – 58,000 micro and small businesses and 10,000 mid-scale businesses.
The share of SMEs in the country’s GDP is 43%. The sector's share in the government budget tax revenue is five to six percent. ---0----
IT and engineering companies, food and alcohol producers, travel companies and the companies that are under the process of closure have been surveyed.
«All the studies show that the government’s strategy in the last few years had no significant positive impacts on companies, and more than half of respondents called it unsatisfactory,» Makaryan said.
He said that many companies are in a desperate state and many are on the brink of closure because they are badly in want of financial resources.
«The government should work out support programs, solve the corruption problem and create equal conditions in the economy,» Makaryan said. «Today unequal competition has various symptoms, such as unequal tax inspections, problems with customs procedures and the pressure large businesses put upon on small and mid-scale businesses.»
Presenting other results of the study, Makaryan said 23% of respondents pointed out 2009 as the best year for SMEs, and afterward things started worsening.
«In the last year or yea and half, SMEs satisfaction degree rose to 20%, but it is not enough, there are still many unsolved problems,» he said. «Besides, it is necessary to leave legal preferences in force for a few years to achieve significant effect.»
Some 70,000 small and medium companies operated in Armenia in June 2015 – 58,000 micro and small businesses and 10,000 mid-scale businesses.
The share of SMEs in the country’s GDP is 43%. The sector's share in the government budget tax revenue is five to six percent. ---0----
