Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan paid a working visit to Syunik and Vayots Dzor Marzes of Armenia. The Head of Government first visited Goris, where he got acquainted with the process of implementing subvention and other programs. Currently, a number of projects are underway in the region to build roads, improve infrastructure and develop tourism.

The Premier was briefed on the ongoing repair work at a 670-meter road section in Mashtots Street, as well as a 700-meter road leading to the village of Verishen. AMD 250 million was invested in the rehabilitation of the road section in Mashtots Street, and AMD 153 million in the repair of the road leading to Verishen village. He was told that roads had not been repaired for about 40 years in Goris. In addition to road repairs, sidewalks are also being reconstructed.

Then the Prime Minister visited the village of Verishen, which is part of the enlarged community of Goris, where he got familiarize with the ongoing improvements around St. Hripsime Church, which was built in the 4th century. Pavilions will be installed to introduce tourists to the region’s sights and local color. The project is estimated at about 100 million drams.

The Premier was also briefed on the repairs of a sports school in the village of Verishen to a total cost of 68 million drams. Nikol Pashinyan inspected the activities implemented under a rehabilitation program to restore Old Goris, in the frame of which caves are being repaired, and an alley corresponding to the color of Goris is created for tourists. Major repairs of the city theater are underway; 500 million drams have been invested for this purpose. The Premier was next introduced to the construction of the city stadium in Goris. The program implies that the stadium will have 4000 seats, and the surrounding areas will be landscaped.

Governor of Syunik Marz Hunan Poghosyan reported that as compared to 2017, the total amount of subventions rose from 450 million to 3,900 million drams in 2019. Goris Mayor Arush Arushanyan noted that his community alone is implementing subvention programs worth 1.5 billion drams, the construction sector is growing rapidly in the city, and investment programs are being implemented in the tourism sector. According to the Mayor, they are experiencing labor shortage at this point of time. The average wage of a worker in Goris is 180,000 drams.

Minister of Territorial Administration and Infrastructure Suren Papikyan said that communities’ own incomes increased by 2.5 billion drams this year, which fostered the programs co-financed by the government and communities.

In this connection, Prime Minister Pashinyan emphasized the importance of proper implementation of all subvention programs and the need to ensure proper control in this field. The Head of Government emphasized that the subvention programs can set a good example of cooperation between local administrations and the central government. In 2020, the government plans to allocate 10 billion drams in subvention programs, which means that the pace of construction will be stepped up nationwide.

“Construction sites should be expanded across the country,” Nikol Pashinyan emphasized. According to the Prime Minister, subvention programs can promote harmonious territorial development.

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In Goris, Prime Minister Pashinyan held a brief meeting with Artsakh Republic President Bako Sahakyan, who was back after a working visit to Brussels.

Nikol Pashinyan and Bako Sahakyan discussed issues of cooperation between the governments of Armenia and Artsakh, as well as the prospects for joint programs in various spheres. Afterwards, the leaders of Armenia and Artsakh laid flowers at the Memorial to the Victims of World War II.

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Nikol Pashinyan also visited Vayk and Yeghegnadzor communities. The Prime Minister called at the Vayk Innovation Resource Center, where robotics is being taught. 10 students are studying at the center and there is a possibility to host 10 more students. The Premier stressed the importance of attracting new students to the robotics club and expressed readiness to finance their annual training.

The Prime Minister next visited the city table tennis school and the kindergarten. The Mayor of Vayk community advised that the while the city did not have the opportunity to submit a subvention bid this year, nevertheless, various programs will be submitted next year after addressing the financial bottlenecks.

The Prime Minister emphasized the importance of implementing multifaceted programs in the community, and went on to note that they should seek to create favorable living conditions for people.

In Yeghegnadzor, Nikol Pashinyan inspected the process of restoring courtyard areas and city lighting projects implemented as part of subvention programs. The Prime Minister expressed dissatisfaction with their progress, and gave relevant instructions to those in charge with the matter at hand. In particular, the Premier instructed Governor Ararat Grigoryan to keep all subvention programs in the spotlight, exercise strict control and report back the results.