Friday, 17 June 2016
PM Receives Delegation of Asian Development Bank (ADB) Board of Directors
Prime Minister Hovik Abrahamyan received a delegation of Asian Development Bank (ADB) Board of Directors The meeting was also attended by Head of ADB Office in Armenia Shane Rosenthal.
Welcoming the guests and pleased with the bilateral cooperation, the Premier stated in part, “For over 10 years, we have been working with the Asian Development Bank. During these 10 years, the Bank implemented numerous programs in Armenia, with its portfolio expanding a over years. Only through sovereign programs some 3 dozen transactions have been carried out thanks to the efforts we have made one important and large-scale programs in the field of energy, transport and water infrastructures, in the direction of business incentive and other areas. All the aforementioned programs have significantly promoted economic growth and development in our country, as well as in terms of raising the level of services to improve the quality of life,”
Touching upon the recent years’ economic development trends in Armenia, the Premier noted that even amid an unfavorable external economic environment, the Government of Armenia managed to take efficacious steps that made it possible to avoid undesirable developments and to finish 2015 with 3 percent growth, with some diversification of markets export and preservation of financial stability. According to the Head of the Government, in the first 5 months of 2016, economic activity was 6 percent, helped by growth in the services sectors, industry and agriculture.
Hovik Abrahamyan said his government will continue to take consistent steps to counter economic challenges facing the country, and in this respect stressed the importance of improvements in Armenia’s equal competitive conditions for the private sector, pointing to the need for expertise and advisory support of ADB in the process, as well as in development agenda of reforms in our country.
Executive Director of the PRC Office of ADB Zhongving Wang on behalf of the delegation thanked Hovik Abrahamyan for appreciation of the cooperation and joint programs of the Armenian government and Asian Development Bank, a holistic view of the economy of Armenia and noted that it was the first time they had been visiting Armenia with such a representative delegation.
“On behalf of my delegation, allow me to compliment the Government of Armenia for their recent years’ achievements in terms of socio-economic development, especially in connection with the progress made in 2015 and in the first five months of 2016. I assure you that ADB will be your partner, and we will continue to help Armenia.”
He praised the cooperation with the Government of the Republic of Armenia and on behalf of ADB expressed readiness to provide more assistance. Mr. Wang touched on the priorities of cooperation strategy between the RA Government and the ADB for 2014-2018, noting that the Bank team works closely with their Armenian partners. He said that on the way from Tbilisi to Yerevan the delegation familiarized with going on a large scale construction works on the M6 highway, also visited one of the candidates of schools in the program of seismic resistance of schools, met with students and teachers, and that the delegation expressed satisfaction with the projected activities.
Touching upon Armenia’s reform agenda, Mr Wong said that the ADB is ready to provide not only financial, but also expertise to our country through various services. According to him, the ADB focuses on the development public-private sector cooperation experience and is prepared to contribute to the development of the private sector through public-private partnerships.
In turn, Deputy Executive Director of the group representing Armenia in the ADB Mario Di Maio said that he was honored to represent Armenia in the ADB Board of Directors, and he will make every effort to deepen bilateral cooperation. Mr. Di Maio praised experienced macroeconomic management of the Government of Armenia in complex external economic challenges and noted that there are great opportunities for expansion of effective cooperation between the RA-ADB.
Stressing the importance of all the activities and projects carried out and discussed with the ADB from the perspective of overall development of our country, Hovik Abrahamyan noted that they are the focus of his Government. The Prime Minister thanked the delegation of the ADB Board of Directors for visiting Armenia and confirmed the willingness of the Armenian Government to continue and deepen the partnership with the Bank.
