The Prime Minister : Interesting and productive work expected in 2018 in Armenian regions

ArmInfo. In 2018, interesting and effective work is expected in the regions of Armenia. Prime Minister Karen Karapetyan stated this during a meeting in the Kotayk region of the republic.

According to the press service of the government, the meeting was devoted to the results of work done in 2017 and plans for 2018. According to the Prime Minister, there are good prospects for ensuring economic growth in the coming years, which will lead to serious reforms in the management system. Presenting the social and economic situation in the region, the Governor of the Kotayk region Karapet Guloyan noted that in the course of 2017 significant positive indicators were recorded in the region. The private sector invested 60 billion drams, of which 25.5 billion drams went to industry, 5 billion to agriculture, 10.9 billion to tourism, 0.5 billion to energy, and 6.2 billion to trade and services, 9.9 billion - in information technology. In general, about 2 thousand jobs have been created in the region. In 2018, the region plans to implement investment programs amounting to 66 billion drams in such areas as industry, agriculture, tourism, etc., which will make it possible to create another 2,100 new jobs.

Karen Karepetyan, speaking about the need to involve private business in the projects, noted the need to consider the issue of transferring, even free of charge, to the private sector of unused property in order to implement specific investment programs and create new jobs. One of the priority directions of the region's development is agriculture. The premier was informed that in 2017 the area of greenhouses increased by 20 hectares. In 2018, it is planned to increase the area of greenhouses to 115.4 hectares. In 2017, 200 hectares increased the area of intensive gardens, reaching a mark of 912 hectares. It is planned to bring these areas to 1137 hectares this year. Responsible persons reported that in the coming years it is planned to annually increase the area of intensive gardens by 200-250 hectares. As a result of the steps taken in 2017, the area of irrigated land increased by 5 thousand hectares. In 2018, this indicator will be increased by another 12 thousand hectares, resulting in an area of irrigated land will be 116 thousand hectares. In this connection, the Prime Minister stressed that the state is consistently following the way of settling the problem of expanding irrigated lands, and it is necessary to take steps towards the construction of private reservoirs.

Karen Karapetyan was also informed that in 2018 another one will be brought to the two breeding farms, and the livestock will be brought up to 2070 from 1810. The Prime Minister noted that this year the government will pay special attention to the issue of subsidizing programs aimed at the development of livestock, since the country has no problems with the market, given the existence of special trade regimes with the EEA, the EU and Iran. In this context, the prime minister urged those responsible for development in the field of agriculture to develop and implement programs to increase the number of breeding farms and increase this target in 2018. It was noted at the meeting that in 2017 5,8bln AMD was invested from the state and private sector in the development of agriculture, as a result of which 400 new jobs were created. In the current year, the volume of investments will not change, and 450 more new jobs will be created. In the sphere of industry in 2017, the region produced industrial products worth 162 billion drams against 136 billion drams in 2016. Over the past year, construction works worth 43 billion drams have been realized in the Kotay region, which is 350% higher than in 2016. The Premier stressed the importance of the development of the construction sector, instructing to facilitate the procedure for granting permits for construction work. One of the priority directions of the region's development is the sphere of tourism.

Currently, there are 80 hotels and recreation complexes in the region. In 2016 the region was visited by 420 thousand tourists, in 2017 this figure grew by 70 thousand, reaching 490 thousand. Speaking about the indicators of the communities, Karapet Guloyan reported that in 2017 the local authorities' own revenues increased by 30% on average, amounting to 12.5 thousand drams per capita. In 2016, this figure was equal to 9.5 thousand drams. It is planned that in 2018 the indicator of personal incomes of communities per capita will be 15.7 thousand Drams. In the communities of the region, the share of own income was 42.3% compared to 35.5% in 2016. It is envisaged to bring this indicator to 46.7% this year. In the framework of the "Clean Armenia" project 165 landfills were closed. In the current year, 9 more landfills will be closed. According to the governor, 10 more landfills will be closed as a result of construction of a garbage processing plant in Hrazdan. It was also reported that in 2017, compared to 2016, an additional 57 million drams or 297.1 million drams were collected from individuals for garbage collection. This year this figure will be increased by 100 million drams. The amount of deductions for garbage collection by legal entities has also increased. It is planned to collect 110 million drams collected in 2017 to raise 160 million drams in 2018. According to the head of the region, in 2018, garbage collection costs will amount to 579 million drams, and the collected funds will be raised to 558 million drams.