OREANDA-NEWS. On December 20, 2007 with a view to encouraging economic development of rural population centres, the President of the Republic of Belarus issued Decree No 9 “On Some Issues Relating to Regulation of Entrepreneurship Activity in the Territory of Rural Population Centres”, reported the Official website http://president.gov.by.

Under the Decree, as from 1 January 2008, the organisations and individual entrepreneurs in rural areas will enjoy a special taxation regime.

In the period from 2008 till 2012 these organisations and individual entrepreneurs are exempt from income and property taxes. They will pay smaller fees for obtaining special permits (licenses); this move is expected to reduce the business start-up costs in rural areas.

The implementation of the Decree will create an enabling environment for business activity in rural population centres and economic prerequisites for long-term sustainable development of these territories.