RA PRESIDENT: YEAR 2006 WAS ONE OF MOST FRUITFUL FOR ARMENIA’S ECONOMY
Yerevan, December 26. ArmInfo. The year 2006 was one of the most
fruitful for Armenia’s economy, having fixed over 13% of GDP growth, RA
President, Robert Kocharyan, said at yesterday’s traditional meeting
with businessmen, it is said in today’s release of Presidential
press-service.
The President noted that the economy growth was recorded mainly at
the expense of construction, trade and services that enabled to fully
carry out the state budget and increase the incomes by 17 bln drams.
"The economic growth of 2005 and 2006 years enable to form a budget of
social direction. We increase the expenses in a social sphere, health,
education, the salaries grow stably year by year. We have planned the
growth of state incomes for the next year by 20%, while the growth
for some directions like science and education, will make up 30%. The
capital expenses, aimed at the development of infrastructures, have
sufficiently grown that is concerned with the assurance of the life
quality upgrade and creation of the necessary conditions for economic
activity", R. Kocharyan said. The President noted that a stable growth
of economy has reflected on the population welfare increase, the
evidence of which is a 40%-growth of the consumer equipment supplies:
25000 were supplied to Armenia in 2006, which is more by 5000 than
in 2005, while this indicator has increased by 1900 as compared with
2001. The President noted that the expensive cars make up only 3%
of this number. "This indicates that a middle class is being formed
in fact", R. Kocharyan said.
Among the problems, the President noted a sharp separation of the
population on the poor and rich and the difference between the rates
of development in Yerevan and the regions. "The first problem is to be
resolved by a more address social policy and a greater concentration of
attention on the development of a small and middle business. The second
problem’s solution is concerned with great budgetary deductions to the
regions", he said. In Robert Kocharyan’s opinion, the continuation of
reforms in all the spheres of economy, especially in the tax and custom
spheres, should become the pledge of successful development in 2007. He
noted that the Government has developed programs with international
financial organizations to fight with the shadow economy, that will
start in 2007. R. Kocharyan considers it necessary to increase the
efficiency of work of the executive power itself.
Talking of the year 2007, the President noted a number of large
programs, including the continuation of construction of Iran-Armenia
gas pipeline and upgrading of the fifth power unit of Hrazdan HPP,
the "Millennium Challenges" and "Linsi" programs, the second stage
of construction of the Yerevan "Zvartnots" airport, upgrading of the
airport in Giumri and the "Nairit" plant, as well as demonopolization
of "ArmenTel". RA President noted there are serious backgrounds for the
development of the mining field and the investments to the water supply
will be continued. "The approved investment programs indicate that
we may expect a serious economy growth in 2007", Robert Kocharyan said.