Wednesday, 18 April 2012
Government Shifts Focus To Enhance National Competitiveness
Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan attended the presentation of Armenia’s 2011-2012 National Competitiveness Report.
Welcoming the guests, the Premier pointed out that national competitiveness is being prioritized as an important asset in modern world.
“The government has revised its national competitiveness policy by shifting the focus from macroeconomic measures toward improved micro-business environment, and its export-oriented industrial policy is a vivid example thereof,” Tigran Sargsyan said.
The Prime Minister said that the obligations of States and governments is the fact that they need to create a favorable environment for business, equal competitive conditions and market competition will learn about the rules, which are the priority sectors, as well as competition between strong and weak enterprises. “Today the emphasis has changed, and governments should not be satisfied by merely improving the business environment, they have to support the micro-level business, that is they need to be proactive in the micro level as well,” Tigran Sargsyan noted.
According to the government, economic regulation consists in the public-private sector partnership for which the State must create a new platform with clear-cut mutual obligations. “That is why a platform is available for the private sector which provides legitimacy to the government’s new industrial policy. Specific agreements are reached on this platform, where both the private sector and the government are well aware of their respective functions and obligations,” the Premier stated adding that such binding agreements commit the private sector to make investments.
“This is a new phenomenon and a new emphasis in our economic policy. We are moving in this direction well aware that this is a way to significantly increase the competitiveness of our economy,” the head of government concluded.
According to the Prime Minister, the National Competitiveness Report gives Armenia’s overall picture from both regional and global perspectives, exposing the reasons behind weaknesses and revealing the trends that can significantly add to our competitiveness.
According to the report, Armenia's competitiveness performance, in decline since 2005, turned out positive in 2011 reflecting structural changes. Armenia significantly improved its competitive position in 2011 as compared to the 2010 Global Competitiveness Report. Our country was the 92nd among 142 countries due to a 6-point improvement in standing and a 4% growth in the overall assessment.
According to the report, 2008 to view trends in the context of the fall of 2011 registered 4.6 percent growth rate is a promising result was a good basis for further economic growth: 2011 was the first year when the competitiveness and economic performance indicators have changed the same direction, which could indicate a transition to more balanced economic reality of the situation. The report said that as compared to other countries, Armenia is deemed to be a country with very low foreign indebtedness, the external debt of which is under control.
The report also notes that in 2010-2011 a transition has been made toward a more proactive, cooperating policy. During this time our country has registered an impressive growth in investments. The share of gross capital in the GDP is among the best ones.
The report was drafted and published by Economy and Values research center and EV Consulting Ltd.
