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.
