ARMENIAN GOVERNMENT APPROVES 2009 SME STATE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM

Noyan Tapan

Dec 11, 2008

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 11, NOYAN TAPAN. At the December 11 sitting, the
Armenian government approved the 2009 Program of State Assistance to
the Small and Medium Entrepreneurship (SME). The decision was made
in accordance with the requirements of Article 4 of the RA Law on
State Assistance to Small and Medium Entrepreneurship.

It was mentioned at the sitting that SME state assistance programs
are based on the fundamental principles of the economic policy
adopted by the Republic of Armenia and help develop the economy
of the country, especially its remote and border settlements, and
overcome the disproportions, which are the strategic and priority
directions of the RA government’s economic policy. The main goal of
the program is to contribute, through continuous assistance, to the
gradual increase of the role of SME. Among the program’s goals are
also the creation and strengthening of infrastructures for assistance
to SME; the expansion of financial and investment opportunities of
SME, while giving preference to SME entities operating in remote and
border settlements; the expansion of opportunities to use instructive,
information and advisory services, as well as to engage in business
for start-up businessmen, noncompetitive groups in the labor market
(especially for persons with limited capacities); and reduction of
the unemployment in Armenia through job creation and retention of
existing jobs.

According to the RA Government Information and PR Department, the
prime minister Tigran Sargsyan said the indicated program will be
one of Armenia’s priorities in 2009, while the promotion of small
and medium business is one of the most important anticrisis elements.