ArmInfo.

ArmInfo.

ArmInfo. Market expectations of the CBA policy rate path have not changed materially since the last  decision and continue to reflect expectations of a gradual reduction in the policy rate through the end of the current year.

ArmInfo.The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has improved its forecast for Armenia's GDP for  2024 from the previous 5% to an updated 6% (versus actual 8.7% growth in 2023), with a slowdown to 5.2% in 2025. This is noted in the IMF World Economic Outlook, April 2024; Steady but Slow: Resilience amid  Divergenc."

ArmInfo.

ArmInfo.The World Bank has improved its forecast for Armenia's GDP growth for 2024 from the  previous 4.7% to an updated 5.5% (against the actual slowdown in growth in 2023 to 8.7% from 12.6% in 2022). For 2025, the economic growth forecast has also been improved, but less noticeably - from the previous 4.5% to an updated 4.9%. Over the medium term, GDP growth will gradually approach the potential 4.5%, and average  inflation will rise to the targeted 4%.

ArmInfo.

ArmInfo. In the banking sector of Armenia, the volume of lending accelerated in growth in 2023 from 13%  to 21%, reaching 5.8 trillion drams ($14.2 billion). But this was not enough to save profits from the decline, which, after a 3-fold jump in 2022, decreased by 9.2% in 2023, amounting to 229.9 billion drams ($567.9 million). This is evidenced by the data of the Financial Rating of Banks of Armenia as of December 31, 2023, prepared by  ArmInfo. 

ArmInfo. The main driver of economic growth in Armenia in 2024 may be the utilization of the  country's competitive advantages in the context of using the opportunities of the free economic zone between Iran and the EAEU. A similar opinion was expressed by Tatul Manaseryan, Doctor in Economics, Professor, Head of the Alternative Research Center, member of the Eurasian Expert Club during a press conference on February 20.

ArmInfo. The effect of external factors on Armenia's GDP growth in 2022 amounted to over 6%,  with the rest being due to the internal potential, Armenia's Deputy Minister of Economy Rafael Gevorgyan stated in an interview as he commented on the argument that the 2- digit economic growth in Armenia was due to relocated employees. 

ArmInfo.The World Bank has improved its 2023 GDP growth forecast for Armenia from the previous 4.4% to an updated 7.1% (against the actual 12.6% growth in 2022), now expecting a slowdown to 4.7% in 2024 and to 4.5% in 2025 (versus previously forecasted y-o-y acceleration to 4.8% and 5%). This is noted in the January Global Economic Prospects report published by the World Bank.

ArmInfo. Re-export did not have a significant impact on the growth rate of the Armenian economy.  Deputy Minister of Economy of Armenia Rafael Gevorgyan stated during a press conference on January 8, referring to the results of the study of the growth structure of the RA economy.

ArmInfo.For the second year in a row, the Armenian economy will become the leader in terms of economic growth among the countries in the region. According to estimates by the Eurasian Development Bank (EDB), the country's GDP growth at the end of 2023 will be 8.3% (against the previously projected 7.5%). Alexey Kuznetsov, Head of EDB Research Department, announced on Thursday in Almaty, presenting the EDB Macroeconomic  Outlook 2024-2026.

ArmInfo. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has opened Armenia's access to a loan of approximately $24.4 million (SDR 18.4 million) under the Stand-by Agreement (SBA), bringing the total access amount to approximately $73.3 million (SDR 55.2 million).  also providing an improved forecast for Armenia's GDP growth for 2023 from the previous 5.5% to an updated 7%, with a slowdown in 2024 to 5% (as previously expected). In terms of inflation, the IMF points to its rapid decline in Armenia, and predicts a return to the target threshold of 4% by mid-2024 and stabilization near this level.

ArmInfo. In the context of the Russian-Ukrainian conflict, a significant flow of capital and  people to Armenia continues, Armenia's Deputy Minister of Finance Vahan Sirunyan stated at a meeting of the Standing Committee on Financial-Credit and Budgetary Affairs, RA National Assembly. 

ArmInfo.Armenia has turned into a car transit country, Artur Khachatryan, a member of the opposition  faction Armenia, RA Parliament, stated as he commented on the 2024 draft budget. 

ArmInfo.Armenia's task is to ensure high-rate economic growth without a considerably growing  inflationary pressure, Armenia's Minister of Finance Vahe Hovhannisyan stated in Parliament. 

ArmInfo.Despite the difficult challenges, joy everyone's joy, the economy of Armenia displayed and continues displaying a fairly high resistance, including the effective macro-economic policies and equivalent actions being continuously implemented by the Government and the Central Bank. The RA Minister of Finance Vahe Hovhannisyan said on November 14, presenting for debate in the National Assembly the draft  law on RA State Budget for 2024.

ArmInfo.An International Monetary Fund (IMF) team, led by Iva Petrova, visited Yerevan during September 13-25 to hold discussions with the Armenian authorities for the 2023 Article IV consultation and the second review under the Stand-By Arrangement (SBA) with Armenia.  At the conclusion of the discussions, Ms. Petrova issued the following statement:

ArmInfo.Maintaining macroeconomic stability in 2024 will make it possible to better manage public debt, keeping its volume at less than 50% of the country's GDP, Minister of Finance Vahe Hovhannisyan stated on  November 8 at a meeting of the Committee on Finance and Budget, RA Parliament, as he presented the draft state budget of the country for next year.