ARMENIA’S PARTICIPATION IN SHANGHAI EXPO-2010 EXHIBITION TO COST 569MLN AMD

Noyan Tapan
July 2, 2009

YEREVAN, July 2. /ARKA/. A total of 569mln AMD have been allocated
from the state budget for Armenia’s participation in the SHANGHAI
EXPO-2010 exhibition, said RA Minister of Economy Nerses Yeritsyan.

"Of this amount 77.7mln will be spent the preparatory stage this year,
with the rest of the funds to directed to the design of the Armenian
pavilion next year as well as to organization costs," Yeritsyan said
at the Government’s sitting today.

The SHANGHAI EXPO-2010 exhibition is to be held in Shanghai next
May-October, its motto being "Better City, Better Life".

Yeritsyan also reported that the Chinese side’s share is about
US $650,000, which is to be directed to construction, design and
maintenance of pavilions.

The Minister said that a contest for the design of the Armenian
pavilion has been held, and, after it has been approved, the main
work will get under way.

RA Premier Tigran Sargsyan pointed out that the budget has yet to
be specified and the costs may increase as Armenia will celebrate
Independence Day on September 21. The Premier said that a cultural
program will be mapped out on that occasion.

"We have to make up a schedule: if we take Spartak ballet to Shanghai,
we have to notify the Chinese side of that for them to assign the
necessary room to us, Sargsyan said.

He pointed out that commercial sponsors can be attracted. Sargsyan
stressed that the RA Ministry of Diaspora should be involved in the
organization as works by architects from the Armenian Diaspora are
expected to be displayed at the exhibition.

"We will thus be able to unite the Armenians," Sargsyan said.