Eligius Survila: “Yesterday - we are the best taxpayers, today we are criminals!”
The actions of the tax authorities forced one of the largest foreign investors to leave Kazakhstan
At the public hearing of the National Chamber of Entrepreneurs of Kazakhstan "Atameken", the Lithuanian businessman Eligius Survila, owner of the factory for the production of beverages "Libella Bottlers Almaty", said that his company received a tax claim in the amount of 4 billion 600 million tenge!
The company has appeared in Kazakhstan in 1998, it is engaged in manufacturing soft drinks. The company created 200 jobs. Today as it turned out the successful investor is trapped in a situation where the only way out of it is a departure from the country.
"17 years ago I built in Almaty a plant for the production of soft drinks - LLP" Libella Bottlers Almaty ". Today it is one of the largest producers of soft drinks in Kazakhstan. All these years, I pay taxes, it didn’t take any dividends, all funds were reinvested in the enterprise. Business - it's always a risk, and this is understandable. But a month ago, the tax authorities filed a lawsuit, claiming 4 billion 600 million tenge for the fact that we have not accrued some taxes. I must say that neither our company nor my investments or my annual sales are not worth as much. This is absurd! None of the companies - manufacturers of beverages and water knew about this law, which has been adopted in 2009. But now they invite us to the tax department, the prosecutor's office. The business almost seized. I find it hard to speak, because I worked honestly for 17 years. At the time, our company was awarded as the best taxpayer, and today we are - criminals!" - Said the Lithuanian investor.
According Eligijus Survila intends to continue to work if conditions are created. While agreeing that the tax on extraction of mineral resources (groundwater) should be administered, he noted that, first of all, it is necessary to consider the appropriateness of the decision.
"Today the situation in the country is not favorable for increase of the tax rate", - said the businessman.
"The Law introduced in 2009 was not known to any manufacturer, including the largest Coca Cola. Today, however, the tax authorities want to impose new taxes and additional charge of billions of dollars on all of us. As a result, the majority of enterprises - manufacturers of beverages and water simply had to close because there is no alternative", - said Eligius Survila.
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