On July 31, 2023, a working meeting was held to discuss issues related to tax and customs legislation within the framework of the project “Business promotion and entrepreneurship empowerment through dialogue”, supported by the U.S. Embassy in the Kyrgyz Republic.
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Various government agencies participated in this event, including the Ministry of Economy and Commerce of the Kyrgyz Republic, the Ministry of Finance of the Kyrgyz Republic, the State Customs Service, the State Tax Service, and representatives from the business community. The objective of the working meeting was to create an open platform for discussing and resolving issues in the areas of tax administration and digital transformation in customs administration.
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Mr. Kubanych Ysabekov, the Head of the Fiscal Policy Department of the Ministry of Economy and Commerce of the Kyrgyz Republic, presented a presentation on tax reforms, particularly focusing on the Law of the Kyrgyz Republic “On Amendments to Some Legislative Acts of the Kyrgyz Republic in the Field of Taxation” No. 78, dated April 3, 2023. This law was developed to implement the decrees of the President of the Kyrgyz Republic issued on December 2, 2021, and July 26, 2022, which aimed to support small business entities and create a favorable tax climate. The main directions of this law include expanding the unified tax regime, setting different unified tax rates for different types of businesses, reducing unified tax rates for the tourism industry and creative economy enterprises, as well as granting tax exemptions to certain industrial enterprises and agricultural producers.
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Mr. Nursultan Salmorbekov, Senior Inspector of the State Customs Service under the Ministry of Finance of the Kyrgyz Republic, presented information on digitalization of processes within the activities of the Kyrgyz Republic’s customs service. Completed and planned projects were highlighted, aiming to improve customs administration, simplify customs procedures, and enhance the quality of customs services. Particular attention was given to the development of a new digital platform that would create favorable conditions for foreign economic activity subjects and promote increased investments in the country’s economy.
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As a result of the working meeting, the American Chamber of Commerce expressed readiness to provide technical support and continue cooperation. The government agencies also confirmed their willingness to consider the raised issues and find solutions.
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The project ” Business promotion and entrepreneurship empowerment through dialogue”, supported by the US Embassy in Kyrgyzstan and implemented by the American Chamber of Commerce in the Kyrgyz Republic, aims to expand the rights and opportunities of businesses and entrepreneurs through providing a platform for public-private dialogue. This project aims to contribute to the development of the country’s economy and create favorable conditions for the development of entrepreneurship.