Wednesday, 4 June 2008
RA Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan received World Bank regional director Donna Dowsett-Coirolo. Concerning the WB report on Armenia
's development policy alternatives for the period 2008-2012, the Prime Minister said that the report contains many such interesting proposals as may prove to the advantage of RA government programs and refresh them with new ideas. Ms. Dowsett-Coirolo reaffirmed the Bank's readiness to cooperate with Armenia by stressing that she was very much impressed by RA President's political statements and wished to discuss with the head of the Armenian government those priorities susceptible to provide a framework for the World Bank-Government of Armenia cooperation in the years ahead.Underscoring the importance of the World Bank
's cooperation with his government as a single team bound by common programs and approaches, the Prime Minister said that the Bank's support was needed on the way to implementing the upcoming second-generation reforms. By stressing that the key priorities had already been defined in the government program, Tigran Sargsyan singled out those programs in need of the Bank's support which imply enhanced efficiency in the system of public governance, continued pension system reforms, improved tax and customs administration, ambitious programs in the field of information technologies, as well as ones aimed at introducing electronic government and building information society.The parties have also spoken about the revised version of the PRSP, agreeing that the content of this paper should match its title, susceptible to be defined as a development program or so on.
At the end of the meeting, the head of the Armenian government thanked the WB regional director for effective discussions and willingness of cooperation, and wished Ms. Dowsett-Coirolo every success in her future activities.
