Annual Report 2010 - AmCham Moldova

Membership Benefits & ServicesAmCham Committees ReportsParticipation is the best way to maximize your membership and get the greatest returnon your investment.Through committees, AmCham Moldova encourages co-operation between companieswithin the same industry, across industries or within the same profession, enabling themto identify and address common issues, and achieve common goals.Financial Services Committee was launched in 2010, while Tax & Legal Committee, HumanResource Committee, and Corporate Social Responsibility have been continuing itssuccessful activity.AmCham Tax & Legal CommitteeCo-Chairs:• Svetlana Ceban, Tax Manager at PricewaterhouseCoopers Moldova• Corlateanu Nicolae, Corporate Affairs and Communications Associate at JTI MoldovaCommittee Coordinator: Serghei Toncu, AmCham Project ManagerAbout the CommitteeCommittee as such and its members represent the voice of private sector in the dialoguewith policy makers on tax and legal issues, promote reform and improvement of legalframework applying best international practices, foster an effective and transparent fiscalsystem in Moldova, meet the educational and information needs of the members byorganizing and attending various topical presentations, conferences, round tables withrelevant keynote speakers etc.Committee members permanently review and comment on drafts of normative acts, addressrecommendations to different state authorities regarding the proposed or existingtax and regulatory norms with sometimes adverse effect on private business.Mission StatementTo act as a lobby and advocacy group for tax and legislative issues affecting members, toimprove tax and regulatory framework as such and, in the same time, to serve as an educationalforum for membership and to facilitate the information exchange on importanttax and legal issues.The message of Svetlana Ceban (Committee Co-chair):“One of the biggest concerns of the business world, including Moldovan companies, whichhas become even more critical during the current economic recession, is the fact that Governmentintentions are often at odds with the needs of businesses. The Government continuouslytends to implement measures designed to increase its budget whilst businesseswant to operate in a more favourable and stable climate. A very important contribution tothe process of recovery can be made by the Government and businesses collaborating toachieve a win / win situation and ensure sustainable and long-term oriented policies.It is obvious that such matters cannot be handled, solved or improved by any businessor Government on its own. We have noticed that the Moldovan Government is indeed listeningto the external suggestions made by businesses and business associations, at leastwhen it comes to taxes. However, we all need to look forward and, particularly in thesedifficult times, we should be even keener to collaborate.The main purpose, therefore, of our Tax and Legal Committee is to further improve theclose and constructive dialogue with the Moldovan Government, by promoting an intelligentand authentic business vision aimed at co-designing the tax and regulatory frameworkrelated initiatives. The idea behind this is to develop a tax and legal environment appropriatefor addressing the challenges faced today by all parties and create a vision for tomorrow.24A publication of the American Chamber of Commerce in Moldova