| Mikhail Khodorkovsky's chair at the RSPP remains vacant for now The question of who is worthy to occupy vacant positions in the highest body of the “trade union” of industrialists and entrepreneurs - the bureau of the board of the Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs - remained unanswered yesterday. At the next meeting of the bureau, candidates were to be proposed to replace St. Petersburg businessman Vladimir Kogan (due to his transfer to the civil service at Rostroy) and Chita prisoner Mikhail Khodorkovsky (due to the decision not to irritate the authorities) who had left the bureau. However, finding a replacement was not so easy. Although, according to the President of the Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs, Alexander Shokhin, the union has “a huge reserve of worthy entrepreneurs who are capable of representing Russian business and protecting its fundamental interests.”
However, yesterday no specific worthy entrepreneurs were found from the “huge reserve”. It was decided to leave the issue open until the board meeting, which will take place in mid-February. By the way, this will be the last meeting of the RSPP board in its current composition. At the next congress of the union, which will meet in mid-April, the composition of the board will be renewed by a third. Most likely, the changes will also affect the bureau, which is formed from members of the board.
Within a month, the RSPP intends to hold a series of consultations with representatives of the Ministry of Finance on tax issues. The Tax Code is, according to Mr. Shokhin, an “economic constitution,” but some of its articles are declarative in nature. The government says tax reform is finished, but businessmen believe there is work to be done, Mr. Shokhin said. At yesterday's meeting, the rates of all major taxes were discussed - the unified social tax, value added and profit taxes, and income taxes. Large businesses do not hide their interest in reducing the VAT rate. But first, quite deliberately, he proposes to resolve all issues regarding tax administration. “Any reduction in rates must occur in the context of clear rules of responsibility for both taxpayers and tax authorities,” Mr. Shokhin explained this position of the RSPP.
In addition, the painful issue for business of purchasing land for industrial enterprises was again discussed. As you know, President Vladimir Putin twice promised businessmen humane rates, but they have failed to reach an agreement with the government. According to Mr. Shokhin, the RSPP continues to insist on a rate of 2% of the cadastral value for the purchase of land under enterprises in all Russian regions, with the exception of Moscow and St. Petersburg. There it is proposed to oblige to pay 20%. However, it should be noted that all large enterprises located on large plots of land are not located in the capitals, where enterprises are mainly bought precisely for the sake of the land on which they are located. In addition, businessmen would like to receive three-year installment payments. The rent for land for those who do not want to own it should not be higher than the land tax rate. The Ministry of Finance has a different vision of the situation. Purchase of land - for 5% of the cost, rent - for 3%, and no installments. Vera SITNINA |
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