Friday, July 27 2018 12:28

ArmInfo.Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan arrived in St.  Petersburg on a working visit on July 26.  The Head of Government met with a large group of Armenian business people from the north-western region of Russia, the press service of the government informs. 

"I want to invite all entrepreneurs to Armenia to carry out economic  activities. All the obstacles that existed before were removed, they  are no more. It is important to note the following:  corruption was  the most important of these obstacles and, in spite of the fact that  on the whole, they say, there is no corruption in Armenia any more,  but its residual effect is evident. I can assure you that an active  struggle against corruption is underway and will be continued," Nikol  Pashinyan said, adding that the fight against corruption has to do  with the activities of some companies, and for his government it is  important that this fight could not be seen and commented on as a  campaign against business.

"It is crucial for us to make it clear that business in general  cannot the target of our struggle. We guarantee the safety of  investments. By stating this, not only do we mean that no government  agency can pulverize investments, but also imply that no one can  seize part of your business, we exclude such phenomena," the Prime  Minister emphasized.  Nikol Pashinyan stressed that the Government  has only one condition in the matter of investment: it expects that  business activity will be legal. According to the Prime Minister, the  State is interested in creating new jobs and increasing government  revenues. "A week after I was elected Prime Minister, I officially  stated at a meeting with the business circles that from now on  business is freed from corruption-related liabilities. And in this  regard, I rule out any attempt to interfere with the activities of  business entities at the local level," Nikol Pashinyan assured.   Touching upon the Diaspora's new role, the Head of Government noted  that since late 1980s the Diaspora has been sending in large amounts  of money in the form of charity, which was valuable and vital to  Armenia. The Premier expressed gratitude on behalf of the people and  the State of Armenia, adding that it is necessary to make sure that  the money so donated is invested in economic activity.

"We want to create the opportunity for you to come and conduct  business in Armenia, make profit and benefit the people and the  state. We want you to earn money in Armenia, our goal is to make  opportunities to make money in Armenia as wide as possible, rather  than being content with a narrow circle. The entrepreneurial field  should be accessible to many, and we can provide it today. We hear  opinions that the business took a break and waits for the upcoming  elections. I want to emphasize that the changes that took place in  Armenia are irreversible; only a government relying on the logic of  revolutionary values can be functional in Armenia. There will be no  counter-revolution in Armenia, and I consider myself to be the  guarantor of this. Time is precious, and I do not want to lose it."  Nikol Pashinyan did not rule out that there might be some problems  associated with the applicable laws.

He said that the Government is working on the Tax Code reform in a  bid to make that field fair and well-streamlined. Touching upon his  government's economic priorities, the Prime Minister stressed that  the development of high technologies is one of them.  "Our common  priority is to turn Armenia into a country of high technology; our  goal is to promote the high-tech industry. Today, for example, the  production of solar panels has proved to be of great interest. We  will do our best to build such plants.  The second priority, which is  at the research stage, is the diamond industry, the processing of  diamonds, which was once very developed in Armenia. Now we are  studying what opportunities exist. The next priority is agriculture.  For us, a new perception of this area is very important: the creation  of greenhouse farms, intensive gardens, the production of anti-hail  networks is of great importance. Of great importance is also the  development of export-oriented industries.

The next direction is tourism and the development of related  industries. In this case, the main attention should be paid to the  environmental sector of Armenia: ensuring an environmentally friendly  environment and food is very important in the context of Armenia  becoming a tourist center," the Prime Minister said. 

  Nikol Pashinyan added that the Armenian government does not offer  anyone to transfer its capital to Armenia. "Try with a safe for you  any threshold. Let us try investing money the way it could generate  added value. We must change the logic of charity. The glorification  of charity should be replaced by the glorification of labor," the  Prime Minister said.

Nikol Pashinyan expressed his confidence that the Armenian government  has no reasons for failure. "There will be no failure: success will  come after success. Today Armenia has strong positions in foreign  policy, in the internal policy of the government there is absolute  confidence of the people, which we necessarily realize. I guarantee  that the Prime Minister of Armenia is not involved and will not be  involved in any corruption deal, we will provide equal conditions for  everyone, and your choice is to take advantage of this or not,"  Pashinyan said.

The Prime Minister also touched upon problems in the energy sector,  which had to do with the effectiveness of credit programs, tariffs,  and the activities of gas filling stations. During the meeting, the  Prime Minister answered a number of questions of entrepreneurs that  concerned the development of energy, agriculture, infrastructures and  other spheres, created conditions, the possibility of creating an  investment fund, etc.

The entrepreneurs stressed that they intended to implement various  investment projects in Armenia, and added that the changes that  occurred in their homeland had revived great hopes in the Diaspora.  They wished Nikol Pashinyan's government every success for the sake  of our people's prosperity.