ARMENIAN GOVERNMENT TO START DISCUSSING INDUSTRIAL POLICY

ARKA
Jan 15, 2009

YEREVAN, January 15. /ARKA/. Nest week the RA Government will start
discussing its industrial policy, reported RA Prime Minister Tigran
Sargsyan.

"Last year the Ministry of Economy was instructed to start
discussing our industrial policy, including the issues of individual
industries. We will start discussions with the representatives of the
key enterprises in individual industries next week," the Premier said.

T. Sargsyan pointed out that the Government will first of all discuss
the development of the chemical, light and food industries. He
said that the public will be informed of the Government’s plans in
the field.

According to the Premier, this will create additional favorable
conditions for private investments and allow the Government to specify
its policy in individual industries.

T. Sargsyan added that the main burden will be laid on the Ministry
of Agriculture, ministry of Energy and Natural Resources and Ministry
of Economy.

Speaking of the work of the task group formed late last year to discuss
programs of assistance to the private sector, Premier Sargsyan said
that the group aims to reveal the programs of stiffening the resistance
of the Armenian economy.

The RA Premier reported that the group has received 70 programs, with
most of them sent back to further revision because the information
contained in them did not meet the=2 0requirements.

"The programs of the second group were declined, and the ones of
the third group are quite interesting and have been included in the
second stage of discussion. They will receive government assistance
to be implemented as soon as possible," the Premier said.

T. Sargsyan pointed out that the emphasis will be placed on the
replacement of import, and the Ministry of Agriculture has been
instructed to carry out much work. The second area is affording ampler
opportunities to export-oriented domestic producers.

"In carrying out the work we elicited a key fact: a deficit of
project managers in Armenia. Many ideas fail to be realized for lack
of experts capable of realizing the ideas in business projects. We
must help fill up the gap," Sargsyan said.

The Premier instructed the ministers to keep this problem in the
highlight and help the task group, which will enhance the effectiveness
of discussions and reveal the programs beneficial for the private
sector.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress