Latvia will climb up to the 37th spot in the Corruption Perception Index by 2020, say the authors of the National Development Plan (NDP) for 2014-2020.

According to the projection of the 1st edition of NDP, Latvia plans to climb up to the 37th spot in the Corruption Perception Index, which is by 24 levels higher than Latvia’s position in 2011. It is expected that Latvia will be on the 44th place in 2014 and ten levels higher in 2017.

Additionally, the authors of the plan hope that Latvia will go up in other international indexes: for example, while Latvia was on the 21st place in the Doing Business index last year, in two years’ time it could reach the 20th place, in 2017 – 17th and the 13th in 2020.

It is projected that Latvia will improve its position on the Global Competition Index by 24 levels. Latvia was on the 64th place last year, so it will be on the 45th in 2020 and within ten more years – on the 40th.

These projections are stated within the “Exceptional business environment” action plan. Authors of the plan say that it is a kind of environment that has a well-structured base of regulations, a predictable state support and supervision system, clear and competitive conditions for starting a business and developing it, so that anyone would be able to get involved in business, work and live in Latvia.

Reduction of administrative burden on businessmen, a full introduction of one-stop agency service principles, usage of high technology in distanced services, reviews of databases of regulations – all these actions were mentioned as the main objectives to achieving an exceptional business environment in Latvia.

It is also planned the gradually transfer the tax burden from workforce to consumption – a radical step on the road to combat shadow economy, increasing responsibility for tax avoidance and larger fines for contraband.

«A clear and understandable business environment is a guarantee for residents to earn a fair pay and for the state to receive clear income. Under such conditions, companies will understand the importance of social responsibility and will work fair in relation to society and the environment,»- said in the NDP.

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