The long construction harmonization processes and unequal attitude of local governments reduce the desire to invest, Siliņa said. She has already asked ministers to assess whether it would be possible, for example, to shorten the deadline for examining submissions, which is currently 30 days in the country.
She doubted it would be possible to introduce a seven-day review deadline, like it is in Estonia, yet “it could be reduced by at least half of 30.”
Siliņa said the government agreed that, first, it will look at how to reduce bureaucracy in the real estate development sector.
“We have agreed that if the big bureaucracy issue is looked at as a big pie or pizza, then the first piece we will cut will be real estate and its development. Everything related to the development of industrial parks, acceleration of construction processes, which would allow investors to invest faster and not lose such projects,” Siliņa said. “This is one of the first jobs we're going to start and then let's look at the next industries.”
Banks are also interested in a shorter harmonization process, Siliņa added.
Four years ago, LSM reported on a previously declared war on bureaucracy by the government, which operated under the slogan "zero bureaucracy" and was supposed to ensure that the sum total of red tape in public administration did not increase.
