JICA MISSION TO VISIT ARMENIA IN EARLY MAY

Noyan Tapan
March 19, 2009

YEREVAN, MARCH 19, NOYAN TAPAN. The RA minister of transport and
communication Gurgen Sargsyan on March 18 received the head of
Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) Unit for Central
Asia and Caucasus Kenichi Yamatoto. Underlining the importance of
close cooperation with JICA, the minister said that it will promote
development of the Armenian economy.

Speaking about the process of working out a new credit program on
Armenian rural road repairs by JICA, G. Sargsyan noted it is at the
final stage, and the documents will be ready soon.

The JICA representative presented the rural road repairs credit
program in detail, saying that it will amount to 50-100 million USD
and be provided on preferential conditions. He said that a visit of
JICA mission to Armenia is scheduled for early May, during which the
amount and terms of the financing, as well as the conditions of the
credit agreement will be discussed in detail. K. Yamatoto assured
the minister that in case of successful bilateral negotiations,
the credit agreement with Armenia will be signed by the end of 2009.

According to spokeswoman for the RA minister of transport and
communication Susanna Tonoyan, the sides also addressed the problem
of road maintenance, for solution of which JICA is likely to provide
financial and technical assistance.