Tuesday, March 19 2019 17:06

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.