DANISH GOVERNMENT ENVISAGES ALLOCATING CREDIT RESOURCES OF 5 MILLION DOLLARS TO ARMENIA FOR DEVELOPMENT OF AGROTOURISM
Noyan Tapan
Nov 6, 2007
YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 6, NOYAN TAPAN. A preliminary agreement has
been reached between the "Rural Financing Facility" (RFF) programs
implementation office – state institution of the RA ministry of finance
and economy and the Danish government that the Danish government
will allocate credit resources of 5 million dollars for development
of agrotourism in Armenia, the director of the RFF Ara Muradian told
NT correspondent.
According to him, the implementation of the above mentioned credit
program in several Armenian marzes (provinces) will help increase
significantly incomes of the local population within 1-2 years,
therefore, expand the local consumption markets.
In the opinion of A. Muradian, problems related to development of rural
areas should be solved not only by promoting the agriculture. In his
words, it is envisaged that new credit programs will be implemented
with IFAD and World Bank resources, during which not only agricultural
but also other enterprises of rural areas will be credited.
He said that the studies conducted by the RFF show that for example,
non-agricultural enterprises of Tavush marz have greater demand for
financial resources than agricultural enterprises. "If financing of
non-agricultural sectors and the agriculture is not proportionate,
especially in remote marzes, agriculture will lose its capacity to
"absorb" investments at some stage of its development – due to the
absence of a growth of solvent demand in marzes," A. Muradian said.