Armenia Expecting $6.8 Mln From Millennium Challenge By March 2009

ARMENIA EXPECTING $6.8 MLN FROM MILLENNIUM CHALLENGE BY MARCH 2009

ARKA
Dec 11, 2008

YEREVAN, December 11. /ARKA/. Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC)
plans to allot over $6.8mln for its programs in Armenia in Q1 2009,
the RA Government’s press service said on Wednesday.

Under the contract signed on March 27, 2006, MCC is to assign
$235.65mln within five years for the irrigated agriculture and road
reconstruction programs in Armenia, with $108mln being allocated for
restoration of the country’s irrigation systems.

During their latest meeting chaired by RA Prime Minister Tigran
Sargsyan, the Board of Millennium Challenge Account Armenia (MCCA)
approved the tenth tranche. The lion’s share of the funds will be
allocated for the irrigated agriculture and rural road reconstruction
programs, as well as for monitoring, assessment and control of the
program.

According to MCCA Executive General Ara Hovsepyan, program
expenditures will total $9.1mln, with the expenditures on the rural
road reconstruction program likely to reach $11.6mln by the end-Q4
2008. Total expenditures are expected to exceed $28mln by end-December.

With the 24.5km long highway in southwest Armenia almost built,
$60.3mln worth reconstruction of 273km roads has been launched. MCCA
plans to sum up the projects on construction of six water mains,
seven gravity canals and 18 pump stations by end-2008 in order to
launch construction in 2009.