Thursday, February 16 2017 18:23

ArmInfo. The volume of US  assistance in the framework of an agreement between Armenia and US  "On a more competitive and diversified private sector" will be  increased by $4,8mln. As a result, the total cost of the program is  $61.1mln. On February 16, the Government of Armenia during the  Cabinet meeting approved the relevant amendments to the Agreement.

According to the Armenian Minister of Economic Development and  Investments Suren Karajan, the funds will be spent on completion of 6  programs, in particular, "Partnership for rural prosperity",  implemented by the National Center for Development of Small and  Medium Enterprises (SME DNC), which started in August 2013 and, It is  expected to close in July 2018. The "Extended Rural Development  Initiative", aimed at promoting employment growth in rural areas, was  launched in September 2013 and will be completed in September 2018.  Launched in July 2015 the program "Cultural Tourism in Armenia" will  be completed in 2020 and is aimed at identifying the cultural  heritage of the country. "Promoting Agribusiness Training Center"  held in July 2014 and completed in July 2019. As a part of the  program is to promote literacy in the field of agribusiness. The  following program is aimed at integrated development of advanced  science and cooperation - was launched in September 2015 and will be  completed in March 2019. The implementation of the latter 6th  program, as the minister said, will contribute to the development of  Armenia's civil aviation.