DUSHANBE, July 23, 2010, Asia-Plus  -- Not all entrepreneurs have properly used a two-year moratorium on inspection of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) introduced in the country in 2008; some of them were concealing their incomes, violating the country’s legislation, President Emomali Rahmon remarked today during an address to the sixth session of the Consultative Council for Improvement of Investment Climate under the President of Tajikistan.

He noted that if there was no interaction between the government and private business the level of competence of private entrepreneurs would not increase and many decisions of the Council would just remain on paper.  “I offer to organize shot-term refresher courses for entrepreneurs at the country’s universities until the end of this year,” Rahmon said.

He also noted some 75 percent of private entrepreneurs have not yet undergone re-registration under the new simplified registration system that shows the level of heir competence.

Applying to representatives from international financial institutions, President Rahmon noted that upon their recommendations the Government of Tajikistan had written off huge debts of the agrarian sector.  “We are still waiting for investment you promised to make in the agrarian sector in exchange for writing off the debts,” the president said.