OREANDA-NEWS. It was said by Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Economy Valeriu Lazar at the meeting with the largest German investors in Moldova to discuss actions that may improve business environment in the short-term outlook, particularly, by altering the budget and tax policy and improving the tax and customs administration. Germany's Ambassador to Moldova Mattias Mayer was the moderator of the discussions. Representatives of German companies Tirex-Petrol, Sudzucker, Draexlmaier, Steinel Electronics, MDV participated in the meeting.

The Moldovan government was represented by the Finance Minister Anatol Arapu, the head of the Chief State Tax Inspection Ion Prisacaru, the head of the Customs Service Tudor Balitchi and the new director of the Investment Attraction and Export Promotion Organization Dona Scola. The companies' representatives stressed the necessity of bringing in line with the EU standards the legislation concerning production based on goods made on commission not to tax raw materials if they are used for production and total re-export within a certain period of time. Investors also discussed such issues as dollar's exchange rate, amount of excise taxes for oil products, tax administration as to VAT refund, including the amount of the VAT for agricultural producers. They also discussed loyal competition. Valeriu Lazar said all issues would be examined and a part of German businessmen's suggestions can already be found in documents of policies being elaborated.

The Minister proposed to present concrete suggestions as to alteration of the legislation that will be examined and approved within the next few weeks along with the law on budget and budget policy for the next year. “We won't make any revolutionary changes in the tax policy, however, amendments will be introduced in administration to facilitate economic agents' activity. I am sure VAT administration will improve starting from January 1, 2014 as these procedures influence all producers and exporters”, said Valeriu Lazar. In his turn, the Finance Minister Anatol Arapu said the state doesn't want to finance budget at the expense of economic agents' circulating assets, that is why the VAT will be returned within 45 days after submission of the application.

VAT will be refunded for companies with a low risk without a preliminary checkup. The German Ambassador highly appreciated the Moldovan authorities' openness to examination of the private sector's suggestions to improve the business environment, which is a positive signal for investors. He said workgroups that will watch implementation of the coordinated actions would be set up.