Civil Society Organizations Pledge Support to Business
The representatives of the Georgian non-governmental organizations held a press conference on May 24 within the frames of the Civil Advocacy Program (CAP) to express support to Georgian business community against blackmailing and racketeering by the authorities.
“We are ready to support business against that pressure which is put on businessmen by the authorities,” Ana Dolidze of the Georgian Young Lawyers Association said.
Giorgi Isakadze, the executive director of the Federation of Georgian Businessmen, said that businessmen should elevate voices against the pressure from the authorities.
The representatives of the civil society sector claim that there are several factors, which hamper business development, such as separate provisions of the new tax code; abolition of Tax Arbitration Councils, which were viewed by the business community as the only meaningful and independent body that could solve tax disputes with the government; unsettled system of granting licenses and permits; failure to enforce the financial and property amnesty; growth of smuggling; non-transparent privatization and acquisitions.
In cooperation with the business community, the non-governmental organizations plan to submit a uniform document of proposals to the authorities, in order to reduce existing problems as much as possible.
“I welcome further enhancing of a circle of people, who support business and creation of stable, predictable business environment in the country,” Giorgi Isakadze told Civil Georgia on May 24.
