Thursday, February 4 2021 15:23

ArmInfo.The Armenian government intends to increase the volume of GDP by 1% by the end of the first half of the year. Deputy Prime Minister Tigran Avinyan  stated this at a government meeting on February 4, presenting an  economic response program and a preliminary action plan.

According to Avinyan, the proposed measures are based on the "road  map" published by the Prime Minister on November 18, 2020.

It is envisaged, in particular, that by the end of the first half of  the year it is envisaged to carry out a number of measures. According  to the Deputy Prime Minister, it is clear that the coronavirus and  military operations in Karabakh, in addition to problems with the  health of citizens and security, led to serious economic shocks. By  the end of 2020, the decline in the country's GDP will be 7-8%. Other  economic indicators are also showing negative dynamics. As a result  of the measures taken by the government of the country, the risk of  an even larger recession was avoided. For this reason, there is a  need to implement a number of targeted programs aimed at restoring  economic activity and making certainties about the country's future.  In this context, the coming months will be decisive.

The Deputy Prime Minister pointed out three blocks of main  priorities, which are aimed at the implementation of the tasks set.  We are talking about intensifying actions to restore economic  activity, creating an economic and consumer environment that condemns  confidence, and shaping the medium-term economic policy agenda. In  order to overcome the economic COVID-19 and restore economic  activity, 12 targeted actions and 12 assistance programs have been  developed and will be implemented. In particular, in agriculture, the  government will encourage and create the necessary conditions for the  production and processing of new varieties of plants with high added  value. It is also envisaged to activate programs in the sphere of  urban planning, in particular, the construction of the 33rd quarter,  the implementation of the "Old Yerevan" project, the improvement of  the Kond quarter and others. In addition, in order to attract  investment, an accelerated process of privatization of state property  objects will begin. Several programs will be implemented in the  direction of overcoming the economic consequences of the coronavirus.  The government will encourage the production of analogs of the  Turkish industry, the import of which to Armenia is prohibited.  Individual responsibility and accountability mechanisms will be  established to ensure successful project implementation. Also,  innovations are expected in the field of public procurement, where  priority will be given to domestically produced products.

RA Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan pointed out the importance of  public information on the decisions made today. He called on the  authorized structures to audit assistance programs, abandoning  ineffective projects.