Expert: Today in Armenia there are all prerequisites for the  development of a preventive and pro-economic policy

ArmInfo. Today in Armenia  there are all prerequisites for the development of a preventive and  economic policy that provides breakthrough, and therefore it is  necessary to replenish the sphere of management of specialists. This  opinion was voiced by the economist, the head of the research center  "Alternative" Tatul Manaseryan during a press conference on August  14.

According to the expert, today the country has created unprecedented  opportunities, excluding artificial interference and subjective  policies that have been conducted in Armenia until recently. In view  of this, Manaseryan urged the authorities not to delay with the  adoption of serious decisions, in particular from the point of view  of stimulating investments, primarily domestic ones.

In this connection, he stressed that in the region Armenia looks in a  favorable light from the point of view of financial stability, taking  into account the weakening of the national currency in the currency  markets of Turkey, Iran, Azerbaijan and Georgia. The monetary policy  pursued by the Central Bank of Armenia provides a certain stability,  which, according to the economist, is a very important background for  the business environment.

"I want to urge the Armenian authorities to use the opportunities  provided. We are talking not only about the stability of the national  currency, but also about the devaluation of the ruble in Russia,  which is of double importance for us, "Manaseryan said. He explained  that with the weakening of the ruble, consumption in the Russian  market will decrease, which will affect the volumes of Armenian  export products sold in Russia. Along with this, there are certain  positive factors, he added. In particular, from the point of view of  selling raw materials and other commodity groups in rubles, which  creates conditions that allow us to accumulate reserves of strategic  importance, and be prepared to withstand further shocks, in  particular those related to sanctions against Russia and Iran. "That  is, this situation is more than receptive, and we should try to  conduct an effective flexible economic policy," he stressed.

Speaking about the latest data on Armenia's economic development, the  expert noted that the figures published by the National Security  Council are more than encouraging. However, they testify to the  inertial development of the economy, he continued. "This suggests  that the foundations for economic development were laid earlier and  now the economy is inertially continuing to develop. But there is  also a positive moment - this trend will be prolonged, "Manaseryan  said.

The growth of economic activity in the first half of this year. at  8.9% per annum, he said, was provided thanks to the main drivers, in  particular the mining industry with an increase of 3.7%, domestic  trade - by 10%, services - by 18%, the agricultural sector - by 5.5%  , foreign trade - by 28.9%. Separately, the expert singled out the  construction, which for the first time in a long time demonstrated  double-digit growth rates (13.5%), after a previously recorded  decline. "Given the volume of construction, which is an indicator and  a locomotive for the development of other economic spheres, the  current year turned out to be quite favorable for Armenia," he  stressed.  At the same time, the expert noted the absence of changes  in the GDP structure, which led to the need to review the inertial  economic policy. At the same time, he drew attention to the problem  of increasing Armenia's recognition in the international arena. The  expert sharply negatively spoke about the agricultural sector. "I see  more problems here than achievements. It's time to "pull" the  agriculture out of the swamp, for which it is necessary to develop a  monthly program of actions and appoint responsible persons for their  execution. And since the AIC is the basis of economic development, it  is necessary to link it with other sectors of the economy, "he  concluded.

According to the National Statistical Service of Armenia, economic  activity in Armenia in the first half of the year increased by 8.9%  per annum against the backdrop of the prevalence of rising import  rates over exports. Growth in economic activity in the first half of  the year in 2018 determined the services sector by 18.1% and the  construction sector 13.5%, against which the growth of other  industries looked modest: the trade sector - 9.1%, the agricultural  sector - 5, 5%, industrial sector - by 3.7% and energy complex - 1.5%  per annum.