3 December, Minsk / Alina Grishkevich - BELTA/. On 31 December, President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko signed Directive No. 4 "On the Development of Entrepreneurial Initiative and Stimulation of Business Activity in the Republic of Belarus". This was reported to BELTA by the press service of the Belarusian leader. Essentially, this is a programme document aimed at further liberalisation of the economy and unleashing business initiative, creating favourable conditions for the dynamic and sustainable development of Belarus. The Directive contains nine sections, each focused on eliminating existing barriers faced by business entities. The titles of these sections are formulated as conceptual systemic requirements for all state bodies and organisations, public associations and citizens of the country: 1. Ensure the further development of fair competition among business entities, regardless of their form of ownership. 2. Create conditions for the unimpeded conduct of entrepreneurial activities. 3. Eliminate excessive administrative barriers in the interaction between state bodies and legal entities, and citizens. 4. Complete the harmonisation of the tax system of Belarus with those in European countries. Give tax legislation a character that stimulates the conscientious fulfilment of tax obligations and business initiative. 5. Give control (supervisory) activities a preventive character, move to the predominant use of preventive measures aimed at preventing offences in the conduct of entrepreneurial activities. 6. Improve the infrastructure and financing system for small businesses in order to activate entrepreneurial activities and ensure effective support for entrepreneurship (legal, organisational and financial). 7. Exclude excessive regulation of the labour market. 8. Form a legal framework that stimulates the development of public-private partnership mechanisms in Belarus. 9. Ensure unambiguous legal regulation and stability of legislation governing entrepreneurial activities.-0-

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