EU initiates new project on Armenian communities economic potential support

ArmInfo. EU intiates new regional  project on Armenian communities economic potential development   support. The official start of  EU f funded  project  on Armenian  Local Economic Devleopment , assuming EUR 9,5 mln budget for 6 post  soviet countries, was announced  on April 28 in Yerevan. The project  assumes also the local co-financing of local communities. Another EUR  5 mln will be rendered within the framework of technical assistance.  The program will finish in December 2020 and is aimed at the  improvement of sustainable and inclusive growth of local communities,  increase of those economic competitiveness and creation of jobs. 

According to the information shared with ArmInfo by Peter Korsby, the  head of Mayors for Economic Growth  project, the main beneficiaries  of the project will be the local self-governance bodies, within the  purpose of  those  more active integration in the development of  local communities economy, under the closest  development with the  centralized authorities  of the country. According to Korsby, in  western countries self governance bodies play an essential role in  community development, while at post soviet region  all the decisions  are being made by central authorities, and the local authorities are  doing nothing. " 

It is very important today that heads of  local communities could  understand their responsibility for their regions development and   could be more active," the project director mentioned. According to  Hoa Bihn Adjemyan, the EU Delegation in Armenia cooperation  department head, the main idea of the project is the cooperation  between civil society, local self governance bodies and private  sector. 

To mention, on April 11 another EU funded project with EUR 2,9 mln  budjet  started IN Armenia and  the appropriate call for proposals  has an objective to enhance people to people contacts and local  community development within the country and within the region  through sport, culture, education and tourism.  Projects proposal can  support among other things the development of (1) outdoor activities  such as summer and winter sports that can have an impact on tourism  development; (2) educative programs complementing existing compulsory  education and higher education institutions offering innovative  learning platforms and spaces; (3) cultural associations promoting  the development of performing arts, music, theatres, literature,  painting, animation, filming, etc.

EU takes a commitment to promote the improvement of civil society and  local communities in the whole context of the development of  Armenia," Pitor Switalski, the Head of the European Union Delegation  to Armenia stated.