Second Quarterly Report: Business Regulatory, Investment, and Trade Environment Program (BRITE) in Moldova

The program is funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and is implemented by Chemonics International. The BRITE program focuses on three main components: Tax Administration and Trade Facilitation, High-Impact Regulatory Reforms, and Strategic Communication. During the second quarter of 2012, the BRITE program completed its first technical activity, the Business Climate, Legal, and Institutional Reform (BizCLIR) assessment. The report's main recommendations were included in the BRITE work plan and the Government of Moldova's (GOM) regulatory reform strategy for 2013-2020. The program also held its official launch in November, which was attended by over 80 stakeholders from the public, private, and private sectors. The BRITE program has established strong working relations with key government counterparts, including the State Tax Service (STS) and the Customs Service within the Ministry of Finance. The STS agreed to expand the membership of the public-private "Conformity Council" to include the American Chamber of Commerce (AmCham) and the European Business Association (EBA). Two meetings of the council took place this quarter. The program also concluded an agreement with the Main State Tax Inspectorate (MSTI) and FiscServ to complete the final piece of programming for the Taxpayer's Account. Online access for taxpayers is expected to be complete in June 2013, with an official launch and promotional campaign to follow. The Customs Service agreed to reactivate the national consultative council and allow the private sector to serve as secretariat in support of the council. The BRITE program and the USAID Local Government Support Project (LGSP) have agreed to cooperate in establishing a one-stop-shop (OSS) information and service center in Ungheni. The program also began preparing specific proposals and legal amendments to improve Moldova's 2014 Doing Business Ranking in areas such as Paying Taxes, Trading Across Borders, and Protecting Investors. The BRITE program has established a strong working relationship with the Ministry of Finance (MOF) and its two agencies, the STS and the Moldova Customs Service (MCS). The program has also established relationships with other donors active in tax administration and trade facilitation, including the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA), the EU Border Assistance Mission (EUBAM), the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), and the World Bank. The BRITE program has made significant progress in improving tax administration and reducing the administrative burden of paying taxes. The program has also strengthened the consultative process and mechanisms between the STS and the private sector. The STS convened its newly created Conformity Council in November and accepted BRITE's proposal to expand the membership of the council to include AmCham, EBA, and ATIC. The BRITE program has also made progress in improving the business environment and increasing foreign investment. The program has established a strong working relationship with key government counterparts and has made significant progress in improving tax administration and reducing the administrative burden of paying taxes. The program has also strengthened the consultative process and mechanisms between the STS and the private sector. The BRITE program has also made progress in improving the business environment and increasing foreign