One of these meetings was the one held yesterday by the former minister of Finance, Arben Ahmetaj, this time in the role of a socialist MP and of a group of representatives of free private enterprise in the country.
On the other hand, the Prime Minister of the country, Edi Rama has chosen to hold one of his recent meetings inside the premises of a textile factory in the country, using this visit to launch important political messages as part of the electoral campaign. But economic messages too, such as the one for the realization of a closed cycle of domestic production under Made in Albania trademark in our country. This is a demand which relates to concessions for businesses and which the business sector has long addressed to the government. Let us not forget the declarations for further support by the government to this category of businesses, which employs tens of thousands of Albanians today.
Also, government representatives are starting to show themselves in different business facilities, as it was the case with the minister of Economic Development, Milva Ekonomi, who has recently held a meeting with an enterprise manufacturing construction materials. During this meeting, she said that “this government is determined to continue its support for Albanian businesses through financial support in the form of grants or low interest loans, because by helping businesses grow, we also strengthen our economy”. Meanwhile, other political camps in the country have also had meetings with businesses.
As far as the Democratic Party is concerned, it seems that it used the months that it was holding its protest against the government in the tent, to hold many meetings with business representatives and talk to them about the problems that concern businesses and the promises or the solutions offered by the opposition.
SMI
Meta holds frequent visits in textile businesses and farms
It is a fact that the Speaker of Parliament, Ilir Meta, who up until recently, held the post of the leader of the Socialist Movement for Integration, has held frequent meetings recently with private businesses, in textile factories or farms. He has used these meetings to unveil the ideas of the political force that he represents about the economic development of the country.
DEMANDS
Businesses demand changes in taxation
On its part, during the electoral campaign, the business community has addressed a number of demands for politics. This was seen during a meeting that was held with the former minister of Finance, Arben Ahmetaj, who was asked for changes in taxation in case the left won the 25 June 2017 parliamentary elections. Meanwhile, more support was also demanded for businesses who introduce domestic products in the market. “You lowered VAT on tourism and we congratulate you on this, as this will stimulate tourism. But we want a lower tax on profit for the light industry”, said Donima Mici, an entrepreneur. Meanwhile, Luan Bregasi of Business Albania has added that manufacturing industry in the country should be supported and the government must look into reducing production costs.
PROMISES
Ahmetaj: Tax on profit will go down, we will review progressive tax
“Now we are able to reduce progressive tax from a level of 23% to 18% and we have also offered a reduction on profit tax on software companies”. This was declared yesterday by the former minister of Finance, Arben Ahmetaj during a work meeting with entrepreneurs in the country. Promising that according to the new program of the Socialist Party, another move is the one of reducing dividend to 6%, from the current level of 15%.
“We will continue to keep tax on profit in the current level, but we will reduce dividend to 6%”, Ahmetaj said, explaining that this policy will be followed by continuing with the tendency of the reduction of public debt and according to him, this is where programs change with each other. Furthermore, he said that salaries in the state sector will increase by 40% and bonuses for pensioners will range from 7 to 10 thousand lek each year. The former minister continued with promises for the opening of new jobs, whereby after the figure of 300 thousand jobs promised for last mandate, the number of new jobs promised to be opened during this mandate is 220 thousand.
