Monday, September 11 2017 16:24

ArmInfo. Prime Minister of Armenia Karen Karapetyan took part in the opening of the forum dedicated to the 25th anniversary of the World Bank activity in Armenia, according to Armenian Government press service.

In his welcoming speech, he stressed that Armenian Government attaches particular importance to close and long-term cooperation with the World Bank, which has promising trends. "The World Bank is Armenia's key partner. We successfully cooperate in all spheres of economic management. For 25 years, with the assistance of the World Bank, many programs have been implemented aimed at the formation of modern institutions and socio-economic development. The assistance provided by the World Bank is impressive, "Karapetyan said, stressing that the WB initiated 95 programs for $ 2.3 billion. At present, the WB loan portfolio in Armenia is about $ 620 million.

According to Karapetyan, the Armenian Government, acting as an initiator, is currently implementing a system program that calls for radical changes and aimed at modernization, which in turn calls for the mobilization of available resources, the use of which will increase efficiency and provide closer cooperation with key partners.

"The ultimate goal for the future is to have an independent, safe, fair and reasonable Armenia," the prime minister said. Building such a future Armenia, in his opinion, should be decisive in relations with the World Bank.  The head of the Armenian Government noted that in order to create a future and ensure security, it is necessary to have a developed, innovative and competitive economy, which in the 21st century should develop due to dynamic digitalization, intelligently adapting to the environment. According to the Prime Minister, this will be possible only if there is a modern, globally competitive, highly skilled, motivated workforce.

At the end  Karapetyan expressed his confidence that in the process of formation and development of a new independent economic system, the WB team and participants from Armenia will continue to invest their accumulated experience and knowledge in creating a worthy future for Armenia.