David Lokyan: 70% of total financing of Armenian regions will be spent on implementation of economic development programs

ArmInfo. Starting from 2018, the  financing of the regions of Armenia will be increased - 70% of the  funds will be used to implement economic development programs, 30%  will be allocated to social programs and the creation of  infrastructures. This was stated by the Minister of Territorial  Administration and Development of Armenia David Lokyan on July 19,  speaking at the conference on territorial development on the theme  "Uniting efforts to activate strategic goals, regional and local  players."

According to him, the government recently approved development  programs for 10 regions of the republic. 

The long-term process, he noted, has entered the final stage and is  already moving away from the development of the program in the field  of its practical application. "Funds for territorial development will  be allocated from the republican budget, then the relevant  ministries, coordinating with the governors, will make investments in  the regions," Lokyan said. In general, in the context of the  Development Strategy for 2017-2025 in the regions of Armenia, it is  planned to increase the financing of the regions from 2018: 70% of  the total amount of financing will be directed to economic  development programs that will lead to GDP growth, create new jobs,  and 30% will allocate for infrastructure programs and social  programs.

At the same time, as the minister stressed, the territorial  administration can not be productive without activating local  players. "We can not implement a serious economic program without the  active participation of communities.The criteria for financing the  communities from the government will be very strict," he said. On  July 6, the Armenian government approved the strategy for the  development of the regions of the republic for 2017-2025, the  implementation of which will ensure a uniform development, increase  of competitiveness, comparison of programs in the context of  territorial development and expected budgetary support from the  European Union. Until 2025, as part of the strategy, it is planned to  increase the number of people informally engaged in agriculture by  10%, create about 50-60 thousand new jobs in the regions with the  lowest GDP per capita, and close the gap between the regions and  Yerevan.