YEREVAN ATTACHES IMPORTANCE TO COOPERATION WITH OPEC FUND FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

/ARKA/
July 15, 2009
YEREVAN

Yerevan attaches importance to cooperation with the OPEC Fund for
International Development, Armenian Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan
said Tuesday at his meeting with OPEC (OFID) Director General Suleiman
Jasir Al-Herbish and other members of the delegation, the press office
of Armenian Government reports.

Henning Pedersen, the head of programs of International Fund for
Agricultural Development (IFAD), was present at the meeting as well.

Stressing the importance of cooperation with the Fund, Sargsyan
pointed out the necessity to enlarge investments in rural areas,
to intensify support for farmers.

He thinks that joint efforts are needed to develop infrastructures,
particularly energy, construction of rural roads, modernization of
irrigation and gas-supplying facilities.

The premier also singled out support for small, medium and
system-forming enterprises as well as protection of vulnerable social
strata among other focuses.

He said that despite some economic decline was recorded recently
in Armenia as a result of the global recession Al-Herbish, in his
turn, expressed appreciation of the Fund’s cooperation with Armenian
Government and hope that it would be continued, the crisis gave room
for reforms and cooperation in various areas.