M. Melkumyan surprised by Government program: “We’ll not achieve anything in this way” (video)
Why is 3.2 percent economic growth planned by 2017 state budget draft and not higher? And this in that case when the new Government is planning to implement large-scale projects in different areas. The NA lawmaker Mikayel Melkumyan addressed the question to Suren Karayan, Minister of Economic Development and Investments, during the discussion of the economic bloc of the state budget at the NA session, “It’s not excluded that the economic growth in 2017 will be more than 3.2 percent as a result of the measures we organize. The calculations show that the economic growth will be just 3.2 percent in 2017.” According to the Minister, flow of investments is expected as a result of the measures they take, though he can’t foresee when it will happen, “We’ll remove all the administrative obstacles, we will create all the institutional systems in order to encourage investments in Armenia. In the future, Investment Fund will be established.” Mikayel Melkumyan noted that maybe the words of the PM relate to important measures, but there is no word about guarantee that next year the economic situation will get better. “Steps were made, but there was little benefit. At present the activity has increased, but it doesn’t meet the set indicators. It cannot be this way. I think everything should be reviewed and you should say concrete things connected with each other. In this way we will not achieve anything.” Suren Karayan opposed the lawmaker, “If you don’t agree with the measures, which we implement, so tell us what we are doing wrong.” What is the Ministry of Economic Development and Investments doing for directing new investments towards Armenia and making the economy more competitive? This question was raised by the NA Republican Party of Armenia (HHK) lawmaker Khosrov Harutyunyan. Minister Karayan answered that they will try to increase Armenia’s position by 4 points in the World Bank’s Doing business rating. “Our legislature should be made simple and available so that the investments flow into Armenia, institute of defense of institutional investments should be established, which is a boosting tool for investors.” Suren Karayan claimed that serious activities are underway so that diversification of exportation market happens. Armenia should also work actively in order to enter European and Iranian markets.
