YEREVAN, JULY 29, NOYAN TAPAN. There are currently 563 licensed organizations with a total of 6,792 vehicles and 605 individuals providing taxi services in Armenia. Spokeswoman for the RA Ministry of Transport and Communication Susanna Tonoyan told NT correspondent that in the period of November 2008 to July 2009, the ministry's licensing unit granted licences to 151 taxi service providing organizations with 2,309 vehicles. 605 private taxi service providers received licences in the indicated period. S. Tonoyan said that the number of applications filed by taxi service organizations and individuals has considerably declined in recent period. According to her, in November 2008 the Ministry in cooperation with the RA Police tightened control to prevent the illegal transportation of passengers and regulate the licensing of taxi services. This process is continuing. It should be mentioned that under the amendments to the RA Law on State Duty, the individuals providing taxi services must be obliged to pay the full amount of taxes. They shall pay 25 thousand drams (about 67 dollars) a year instead of the previous 200 thousand drams.

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