ArmInfo. Cooperation with European partners will give the Armenian economy a new breath, create new qualitative and important prerequisites for further deepening and developing bilateral relations. On March 19, Minister of Territorial Administration and Development of the Republic of Armenia Suren Papikyan stated this during a meeting with a delegation of the European Investment Bank (EIB) headed by Director of the Credit Operations Department in EU-neighboring countries Lionel Rapaille.
According to the press service of the Ministry, Suren Papikyan highly appreciated the support of the EIB for the effective development of energy and road infrastructure in Armenia, modernization of border checkpoints, solid waste management, improving the capacity of various communities in the country.
In turn, Lionel Rapaille, thanking for the reception, noted that the priorities and prospects announced by the Armenian government and the prospect of ratification of a comprehensive and enhanced partnership agreement between Armenia and the EU will give new impetus to institutional cooperation programs. Lionel Rapaille expressed confidence that the financial instruments and technical assistance provided by the EIB will contribute to the implementation of infrastructure development programs.
During the meeting, the sides discussed issues of bilateral cooperation, such as the development of road infrastructure, the modernization of water supply and drainage systems, the improvement of urban transport networks, the improvement of seismic safety in schools and solid waste management systems. Earlier, ArmInfo, citing Maciej Czura, head of the regional office of the European Investment Bank in the South Caucasus, reported that over 10 years of cooperation with Armenia, the EIB had invested about 380 million euros in programs implemented in the country. Czura noted that the visions of development presented by the RA government are consonant with the strategic objectives of the Bank's activities in Armenia, which include developing socio-economic infrastructures, promoting the private sector and mitigating the impact of climate change.