ArmInfo. In the city of Amasia, Shirak region of Armenia will be established a wool processing plant. The RA Minister of Agriculture Artur Khachatryan participated in the launch ceremony of the program.
The project, the press service of the RA Ministry of Agriculture reports, will be implemented within the framework of the program "European Union of Shirak region: new jobs due to the production of wool." The head of the EU delegation to Armenia, Ambassador Piotr Switalski, Minister of Territorial Administration and Development of the Republic of Armenia Suren Papikyan, and other officials took part in the event.
According to Artur Khachatryan, the implementation of the program will restore the culture of carpet weaving, create jobs not in the sphere of agriculture, diversify the incomes of the population, and lead to the development of sheep breeding. "In Soviet times, there were 2.2 million sheep in Armenia, now this figure has decreased 4-5 times, but the sheep industry is very profitable, and if we can create the infrastructure, improve the feed base, and provide the right assistance, we will are created as large farms, and house economies will be developed, which, in turn, will lead to an increase in the number of small cattle, "the minister stressed.
He noted that Shirak region was one of the centers of sheep breeding and, if the program succeeds, it can become a good model, which can be applied in other areas of Armenia.
In his turn, Suren Papikyan noted that the Ministry of Territorial Administration and Development attaches importance to the proportional development of the regions of the country and since 2009 is in constant dialogue with the EU. The goal of cooperation is to ensure programs and projects that are approved by their territorial development priorities, and whose application will lead to effective and stable results.
"As we know, we work in all areas, but are focused on the Shirak region, we chose Amazia, which has a beautiful landscape, beautiful nature, but which, unfortunately, is far from the main trade routes, as well as from the markets," said the head of the EU delegation in Armenia, Ambassador Piotr Switalski.
The factory for the processing of wool, which is planned to operate before the fall, will soon begin repair work. According to preliminary calculations, the company will create 23 workplaces with the possibility of increasing this amount in the future.
The program is implemented by the Armenian representation of the organization "Man in Need," the community administration of Amasia, the Shirak Chamber of Commerce and the company VINNET Armenia.
Previously, ArmInfo informed that the EU provided Armenia with a grant of 1 million euros for the implementation of the project.
