ArmInfo. Armenia is negotiating with the Asian Development Bank (ADB) on targets for the period up to 2030 and technical assistance aimed at developing an action plan until 2025. On March 19, RA Minister of Education and Science Arayik Harutyunyan stated at a meeting with a delegation from the ADB headed by a member of the Board of Directors of the Bank Syurkani Ishak Kasim.
As the press service of the Ministry informs, according to him in recent months, effective cooperation has been established with the Bank in a number of directions, the results of which are already obvious. Arayik Harutyunyan stressed that the bank's projects coincide with the main directions of reforms that the RA government intends to implement.
The minister said that by developing new general educational norms and curricula, Yerevan expects the Asian Development Bank to support the conceptual directions of management of the general educational sector and the roadmap, as well as the process of developing national standards for teachers. Syurkani Ishak Kasim touched upon the cooperation of ADB and the Ministry of Education and Science of Armenia, noting that the bank is ready to provide assistance to those programs that facilitate the possibility of cooperation and exchange of experience between various states. Arayik Harutyunyan also stressed the importance of the link between education and the labor market, noting that a lot of work was done in the field of education, in particular in terms of attracting business and introducing dual education.
To note, ADB plans to provide Armenia with financial assistance in the amount of about $ 500 million. The funds will be directed to support infrastructures, energy and social services to promote the country's flexible, inclusive and stable development. In transport sector ADB will continue to assist in the construction of the North-South transport corridor, as well as in strengthening transport links between cities with high levels of poverty. For regional cooperation and integration of the country, ADB will support the development of roads connecting Armenia with neighboring Georgia. In addition, ADB will assist in the sustainable development of cities with a high level of poverty, helping local governments to develop coordinated plans and providing the investments needed to modernize infrastructures, including water, as well as urban roads and solid waste management. Worn-out electric power infrastructures of Armenia and a strong dependence on the import of mineral fuels weaken the country's energy security. ADB will assist in resolving this problem by supporting the development of renewable energy sources, as well as the rehabilitation and modernization of energy infrastructures. Armenia joined ADB in 2005 and is in the group of countries with mixed (concessional and conventional) financing. ADB is addressing poverty reduction in the Asia-Pacific region through stimulating economic growth and regional integration.