A Cabinet meeting was held today, chaired by Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan.

The Government decided to allocate 278,999.5 thousand drams to Marz administrations in addition to the subventions envisaged in the State budget bill. The reference note says that the projects on the development of economic infrastructures in communities will be co-financed from the State budget at the rate of 60% of the project cost, while the social infrastructure-targeted projects - construction and repair of kindergartens, cultural houses - shall be co-financed at the rate of up to 40% of the project cost.

During the first five months of 2018, communities submitted 185 project bids, of which 84 were approved by the committee during three meetings of the inter-ministerial subvention commission. Currently, a tender is being conducted for the implementation of approved programs.

Touching upon the issue, Nikol Pashinyan reminded that the government is prepared to allocate 10 billion drams under the subvention program this year, but so far it has not been possible to ensure activity in this sphere. “We had promised to provide 10 billion drams under the subvention program, but the actual figures indicate some 200-300 million drams," the Premier said.

By the Government’s next decision, Green Farmer LLC will be exempted from customs duties and VAT on imported technological equipment, their components, raw materials and materials for a period of three years within the framework of the investment program implemented in the priority area. The Company will use the imported goods in agriculture. Another solution of the government will be the use of Satenkar LLC for the exemption from VAT payment for a period of three years. Within the framework of the presented investment program, the Company intends to invest about 286.5 million drams to purchase high-quality raw materials.

Nikol Pashinyan noted that local manufacturers of the textile industry will participate in the manufacture of underwear for soldiers, and the government calls for new investments in this area. At the end of the meeting, Nikol Pashinyan instructed the ministers, the heads of government agencies, the Marz governors, and proposed the acting Mayor of Yerevan to meet with citizens at least once a month.

“The number of letters sent to the Government after May 8 keeps growing, and has reached an unprecedented level. We need to enhance the efficiency of letter processing process,” the Head of Government said and instructed the Government Staff to thoroughly discuss the applications and answer citizens in a timely manner.