ArmInfo. 10 business programs are successfully implemented in the Kotayk region of Armenia; another 25 new projects are underway. Governor of the Kotayk Romanos Petrosyan announced on August 17 at the "My step for Kotayk region" business forum .
According to him, the region, which occupies 7% of the territory of Armenia, is rich in water resources, however, some reservoirs require modernization. After reconstruction this year, the Marmarik reservoir, containing 24 million cubic meters of water, was completely filled for the first time. Negotiations are underway with private investors on the reconstruction of another water basin with a capacity of 6 million cubic meters of water. The government's agenda also includes the project for the construction of the Yeghvard reservoir, which will significantly improve the situation with the effective management of the country's water resources.
The governor also recalled that industry has a dominant position in the economic life of the region. First of all, according to him, we are talking about the processing industry, among which the production of food products and drinks, as well as the production of non-metallic products, various types of metal products, precious and semiprecious stones, in particular diamonds, are developed.
In order to develop the region, according to Romanos Petrosyan, four conceptual directions have been identified - diamond processing recovering energy, intensive farming and technological agriculture, tourism and hospitality. Diamond processing accounts for 7.5% of all production in the field. There are 13 diamond cutting enterprises in Kotayk, of which 10 are located in Nor Ajna, one each in Abovyan, Nor Gekhi and Karashama. In 2019, another large diamond cutting industry will appear in the city of Abovyan, rough diamonds are imported, and most of the faceted products are exported. Today, about 700 people work at diamond cutting enterprises. There are serious prerequisites for the development of this sphere in the region, including rich experience, qualified personnel and product recognition in international markets.
The region, as its head noted, occupies a special place in the socio-economic development of the country from the point of view of the existing potential in the energy sector. The share of electricity production in the total industrial production of Kotayk is 45%. 20% of all electricity produced in Armenia falls on the Kotayk region. Two large generating facilities operate in the region - Hrazdan State Regional Power Plant (SRPP) and 5th power unit of the Hrazdan Thermal Power Plant. 17 small hydroelectric power stations are also operating in the region. The latest technologies are also being used to develop solar energy. In 2018, solar power plants with a capacity of over 400 were built in Kotayk. In 2019, another 2 photovoltaic power plants with a capacity of 1 MW will be built and commissioned in the region.
One of the most important areas for the development of the region, continued Romanos Petrosyan, is the agricultural sector. In Kotayk, agricultural land is 180 thousand hectares, of which only 50% is cultivated today. At the same time, a network of anti-hail installations covers only 40 hectares of cultivated land. In the region there are over 32 thousand family farms, as well as 35 processing enterprises, greenhouses have been deployed on 92 hectares. By the end of this year, the area of greenhouse farms will increase by 19 hectares in four settlements. The region produces 7.6% of all livestock products produced in Armenia, in particular, meat and milk production. In the region there are more than 15 specialized companies engaged in the processing of livestock products. In addition, the region has three largest poultry factories of the republic.
As the governor emphasized, when peaking about the Kotayk region it is important to mention the tourism sector. Kotayk, he said, could become one of the regional tourist centers. Among the priorities are ecotourism, agricultural tourism, winter tourism. Efforts are currently underway to develop tourism in three communities in a new community format. The region is rich in cultural and historical monuments, which number is 3200.