ArmInfo. In 2018, it will be necessary to implement a number of programs aimed at the proportional development of Armenian communities. This was stated by the Minister of Territorial Administration and Development David Lokyan at a press conference in Yerevan on February 23.
According to him, these programs should be aimed at reducing disparities in the calculation of GDP per capita between different communities of the country. In 2017, in Armenia, on average, GDP per capita was $ 3.521, which by the end of the year, due to economic growth, increased by $ 300. At the same time, GDP per capita differs markedly in different communities of the country. So, in Gyumri this indicator is much lower than in Yerevan and in the communities of Syunik region. With a view of proportional development of regions and reduction of indicators of gross national product per capita in 2017 process of development and application by communities of the country of the annual working plans in which the questions such as formation of budgets, target use of expenses, effective management of own property have reflected. All income of communities will be channeled to the implementation of development programs. On the same principles, they will develop their annual work plans and regional governors. The state, in its turn, will develop such mechanisms, in the application of which the communities will receive more funds from the state budget while increasing their own incomes. The first step in this direction has already been taken. In particular, if the community implements capital expenditures of 50%, the state will double this amount. Another problem that will need to be addressed in 2018 concerns the government subsidizing the economic programs of the communities. With the consent of the country's commercial banks to finance these programs, the state undertakes to subsidize 6% of the loan funds. Since March this year, the implementation of this project will begin.
Davit Lokyan reminded that in 2017 the state provided 5 billion AMD to the local self-government bodies in the form of financial assistance, which are aimed at financing 285 programs. Due to the use of the e- procurement system, 1.4 billion AMD have been saved from this amount of financing, which are aimed at implementing projects in other communities - the cities of Jermuk, Vanadzor, etc.
All these measures, the minister continued, are aimed at boosting economic activity in the country's communities. Credit and grant funds of international structures and various states are sent for the same purposes, the total amount of which exceeds $ 35 million. Thus, USAID provided $ 10.6 million to the communities of Armenia, for which 90 units of construction equipment were purchased - excavators, graders, trucks, more 100 units of agricultural machinery - combines, tractors. With the financing of the European Union, 8 pilot programs are implemented in 10 million euros, which, if successful, will be extended to all communities in the country, which will create about 1 thousand new jobs. In particular, in the Tavush region, the project "Integrated Assistance to Border Communities" is being implemented, as a result of which, only in 2017 55 hothouse farms, small wineries, 7 refrigeration units, dryers were built. The intensive gardens are divided in an area of 27.5 hectares, etc. There are already 9 families in the region who, having received financial assistance, produce high-quality wine, part of which is exported to the Russian Federation. The Amaziya community is launching a program to produce wool yarn. The project drew the attention of 5 more communities of the republic. Under the UN program for a $ 5 million grant in Tavush region, a project to increase the capacity of the local population is being implemented. Another UN program, funded by the Russian government in the $ 3 million is aimed at developing in 60 rural tourism communities.
As the minister stressed, by the end of 2018, 502 Armenian communities will have their own specific economic programs and plans for the development of the territories. At the heart of these tasks will be the idea of program budgeting, which will be applied from 2019 onwards.
