Is bureaucratic streamlining ahead in Ukraine?
As anybody who takes note of the myriad of international reports relating to the ability to do business will know, Ukraine consistently fails to improve.
The biggest gripes are with customs, both speed of clearance and levies, and VAT claims. All other problems can be overcome with a steely will and unending patience.
Why is such determination necessary? - According to the Ukrainian Prime Minister, “despite decisive actions in the sphere of deregulation, so far 88 bodies have powers of control, 37 issue permission documents, 34 issue and cancel licenses, and 21 bodies have the authority to stop or suspend economic activity.
This situation is unacceptable for the government and business.”
Well, I’ll give that man one of my finest cigars, but I won’t light it for him just yet.
A truly mind-boggling bureaucratic labyrinth of unnecessary administrative control via a completely unjustifiable number of entities. Each and every one of these 88 organs of State officiousness is of course open to corrupt “administrative fees” should you face the wrong person on the wrong day.
Mr Azarov then publicly instructed those in charge of the ministries of Trade and Economic Development as well as the Deputy Prime Minister to “finally remove this year the distorted and pernicious system of relations between the state and businesses, which restricts economic freedoms.”
Now if that happens this year, I will not only give him one of my finest cigars, I will light it for him as well!
As ever though, ineffective implementation will be the cause of such a necessary streamlining failing and nobody will be held accountable when it does fail.