ArmInfo. The GDP of Lori region in 2017 was 298.9 billion drams, which is 5.2% of Armenia's GDP. Compared with 2016, the region's GDP increased by 103.8%. This was reported to the Prime Minister Karen Karapetian by the Governor of the Lori region Arthur Nalbandyan during the meeting in the regional administration.
According to the press service of the Armenian government, the governor said that only industrial production in the region in 2017 increased by 98.6%, making 146.4 billion drams. At the same time, the share of the Lori region in industrial production was 8.8%. The volume of agricultural production in the reporting year increased by 115.8%, amounting to 78.9 billion drams, which is 8.7% in the whole country.
The construction sector provided growth of 106%, amounting to 17.8 billion drams, the share of the region as a whole in the country was 4.3%. The volume of small wholesale trade in 2017 increased by 94.7%, amounting to 37.6 billion drams or 2.8% in the whole country. And the volume of services amounted to 18.2 billion drams, which is 115.5% higher than the same period of the previous year, or 1.3% in Armenia as a whole.
Arthur Nalbandyan also noted that last year the strategy of development of the Lori region for 2017-2025 was approved. The program of activities for 2018 is already fully implemented, which includes investment programs financed by the state budget, local government budgets, private investors, donors and other organizations. The strategy presents a vision of the region's development, which includes a diversified developed industry, modernized agriculture, the development of tourism and information technology.
According to Arthur Nalbandyan, the budgets of the communities of the region were fulfilled by 96.6%, instead of the planned 7333.3 million drams, it was collected 7086.7 million drams. In comparison with 2016, own revenues increased by 11.1%.
The governor stressed that it was not possible to ensure 100% compliance with the land tax, which is mainly due to the absence of their owners in the republic. In this regard, the Prime Minister pointed to the need to resolve the issue by entrusting the decision. In the line of urban planning, the head of government was informed that in 2016 114 construction permits were granted, in 2017 - 212. The volume of new construction work amounted to 29686 sq.m. against 17380 square meters a year earlier. The prime minister instructed to keep under constant control the issue of granting permits for construction work in 2018.