ArmInfo. In 2018, 28.15 billion AMD is planned to be invested in the economy of the Tavush region of Armenia, compared to 23.3 billion AMD in 2017. The head of the regional administration Hovik Abovian told Prime Minister Karen Karapetyan. On February 24, the head of the Armenian government visited the Tavush region to get familiarized with the results of the activities carried out in individual spheres within the framework of the programs for the development of marzes and communities in 2017 and tasks for 2018.
As the press service of the Armenian government reports, presenting the macroeconomic indicators of the Tavush region for 2017, Governor Hovik Abovyan, in particular, noted that agricultural land in the region is 111 thousand hectares. As a result of the process of community consolidation, the number of communities was 24, instead of the early 62. In 2017 the gross industrial output in the Tavush region of Armenia was 13.7 billion drams, against 12 billion drams in 2016. At the same time, the volume of gross agricultural production for the past year totaled 39.7 billion drams against 41.3 billion drams in 2016. The decline, according to the governor, is due to damage from hail and frost in 2017, as well as a reduction in crops (compared to 2016, 5 thousand hectares less).
According to Hovik Abovian, in the Tavush region in the field of agriculture in recent years, programs have been implemented to create hothouse and refrigeration facilities, the establishment of gardens and processing enterprises. The total number of the above-mentioned farms exceeds 350, they provide more than 1,400 basic and temporary jobs. In 2018, according to the governor, in the area it is expected to be quite high growth: if in 2017 2.8 billion drams were invested in the agrosphere, this year the envisaged investments will make 5.6 billion drams providing a 5-7% growth.
The trade turnover in the region for the year 2017, according to Hovik Abovyan, totaled 33.5 billion drams from 29.7 billion drams in 2016, the services sector grew from 10.7 billion drams in 2016 to 14.1 billion drams the past year. The volume of construction also increased from 12.5 billion drams to 17.3 billion drams in 2017. Export, compared with the indicator of 2016, grew more than 2 times - reaching 8 billion drams. The same pattern is observed in the investment line - for the year 2017 the volume reached 23.3 billion drams (800 jobs), compared to 10.1 billion drams in 2016 (625 jobs). In 2018, within the framework of the expected investments, 885 permanent jobs are planned to be created. The share of own income per capita in the region in the total amount of income in 2017 was 25.7%, instead of 22.2% in 2016. In 2018, the forecasted figure was 30.6%.
Presenting developments in tourism, the governor noted that the number of tourists who visited Tavush in 2017 was 120,000 people, which is 25,000 more than in 2016. This year the Tavush region plans to host up to 135,000 tourists.
The Prime Minister, expressing satisfaction with the progress made in the field of agriculture in the Tavush region, noted that this year, taking into account the existing trends, one must claim higher growth, and the prospect of ensuring much higher growth should be secured. Karen Karapetyan urged not to relax and work with more energy.