Thursday, January 19 2017 13:54

ArmInfo. Vache Terteryan, the first Deputy Minister of Territorial Administration and Development, received Frans Weekers, the member of Governing Board of the regional development bank EBRD, Netherlands group leader, to discuss   cooperation prospective.

According to the  information of the press office of the Ministry, Terteryan highly appreciated the cooperation with EBRD, accentuated the importance of two joint projects: "Solid waste management in Gegharkunik and Kotayk districts" and "Gyumri urban rodas" The deputy minister mentioned that  EBRD presence is very important for  implementation of other  projects on infrastructure, which will be aimed at the business development and economic environment rehabilitation. These programs are of important meaning  also in the context  of PPP (state-community- private sector), because the communities embraced by the program will be involved in the borrowing process as participants for the first time," he mentioned.  At his turn, Frans Weekers expressed his appreciation for  being welcomed, and mentioned that he is a member of EBRD Directors Board since  May 2016, and his visit to Armenia is aimed at  getting familiar with the current cooperation process and  searching new options for cooperation.

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) is providing EUR 5.5 million loan to Armenia for implementation of modern solid waste management solutions in Kotayk and Gegharkunik regions. The loan amount consists of a previously signed EUR 3.5 million and a newly added EUR 2 million EBRD sovereign loan, the press-service of the EBRD reports.

The additional EUR 2 million will enable the geographic coverage of the Kotayk Solid Waste Management Project to be extended to the adjacent Gegharkunik region. The project will finance the construction of Armenia's first European Union (EU) compliant solid waste landfill, providing an integrated solid waste management solution in the Kotayk and Gegharkunik regions.  The new landfill will be located in the city of Hrazdan in Kotayk Province and managed by twelve participating municipalities - Hrazdan, Abovian, Charentsavan, Tsakhkadzor, Byureghavan, Yeghvard, Nor Hachn, Sevan, Martuni, Gavar, Vardenis and Chambarak. It will operate as a commercially sustainable unit with modern solid waste management systems, covering the collection and disposal of municipal solid waste. The provision of this service will generate major environmental and social benefits for some 500,000 people in the area.  This loan is generously complemented by capital grant financing of EUR 5.5 million, consisting of a EUR 3.5 million grant provided by the European Union Neighbourhood Investment Facility (EU NIF) and a EUR2.0 million grant secured from the Eastern Europe Energy Efficiency and Environment Partnership (E5P) fund.  The legal agreements for this loan were signed today in Yerevan by Armenia's Minister of Finance, the twelve participating municipalities and the EBRD.  This project has received additional grant financing from several donors. The Austrian government will support the implementation of the project and the corporate development of the landfill management company. The remaining grant funds are contributed from the EBRD's Shareholders' Special Fund and the Early Transition Countries Fund.