Yerevan/Mediamax/. By aiming to increase the tax payments by AMD 100 bln, the government doesn’t set an ambitious and tedious task, said the former head of CB of Armenia Bagrat Asatryan.

According to him, in conditions of 4.2% growth set in the draft state budget for 2012, Armenia’s GDP in absolute terms will make AMD 11 trillion 200bln which will already ensure about AMD 60bln extra tax payments.

“As for the rest AMD 40bln, the planned increase in the excise taxes, introduction of progressive profit tax rate and luxury tax are quite rational steps”, noted Bagrat Asatryan.

At the same time, the former head of CB expressed the confidence that taking into account the high level of shadow economy, Armenia has even more unrealized tax collection potential. He cited Georgia’s example where the taxes/GDP correlation has been enhanced from 17% up to 25% over 5 year.

Answering Mediamax’s question, Bagrat Asatryan said that the government’s initiatives are mainly meant for ensuring transparency of operation of major enterprises which will contribute to reduction of the shadow sector. At the same time, he expressed the confidence that oligarchs having a monopoly or dominant position in various economy sectors will compensate the growth of the tax load by increasing the prices and as a result the final consumer will suffer most of all.

“Due to this, we can state with confidence that in 2012, people in Armenia including government employees will live worse than in 2011”, said Bagrat Asatryan.

In this respect, he stressed the necessity of radical measures taken by the authorities in the sphere of anti-monopoly policy and ensuring of atmosphere of justice in the society.