NATIONAL ROAD SAFETY STRATEGY FOR ARMENIA TO BE

ARKA
April 8, 2008

YEREVAN, April 8. /ARKA/. The consortium of WYG International (UK)
and Ameria CJSC (Armenia) have signed a contract for "Preparation of
National Road Safety Strategy for Armenia".

The press service of the Ameria CJSC reports that the Government of
Armenia and the World Bank initiated Traffic Management and Safety
Project. The contract is the result of the competitive tender announced
by the World Bank.

Within the scope of the project the Consultant (WYG International
and Ameria CJSC consortium) will be responsible for but not limited
to the facilitation of all the necessary meetings and deliberations
required to improve the institutional structures and processes for
managing traffic safety in Armenia; preparation of a Multi-Sectoral
Memorandum of Understanding between participating government agencies
in Armenia, setting out coordination and decision-making arrangements
for managing road safety across corresponding agencies and the
wider community; elaboration of recommendations to the Ministry of
Transport and Communication and Ministry of Education and Science
to strengthen their capacities in the licensing and supervision of
vehicle inspection organizations, and driver training organizations
respectively; preparation of a National Road Safety Strategy for
Armenia and a Five Year Action Plan to commence implementation of
the National Road Safety Strategy for Armenia.

In the result, WYG International and Ameria will prepare the core
component of the traffic management and safety project – the national
road safety strategy for Armenia, with the development objective to
reduce the rate of traffic accidents and traffic fatalities in Armenia
and reduce congestion in Yerevan. It will be achieved by improving
the institutional structure for managing traffic safety, improving the
institutional capabilities of the municipality of Yerevan for traffic
management and passenger transport regulation, and will improve the
traffic carrying capacity and traffic safety of Yerevan streets.

Armenia is experiencing rapid growth in motor vehicle ownership and
use. In the last five years the motor vehicle fleet increased by 30%,
while the traffic carried by road increased by 38% (freight) and 61%
(passengers).

This rapid motorization is causing traffic congestion in Yerevan
and traffic accidents to increase rapidly across the country. During
the last five years the number of accidents in Armenia increased by
40%. Over 25% of Armenia’s traffic accidents occur in Yerevan and 75%
of them involve pedestrians.

Ameria is a group of professional services companies registered in
Armenia with the objective to provide a comprehensive package of
professional advisory and assurance services. Ameria specializes
in four major areas of professional activities: management advisory
services; assurance and advisory services; legal advisory services;
investment banking. Established in 1998, the company has become
a leader in the Armenian market of advisory services bringing an
international reach and local touch to complex issues rising in more
than 30 industry sectors.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress