Chaired by Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, a consultation was held, during which the heads of public administration bodies reported on the implementation of the assignments issued by the Prime Minister.

On the first issue of the agenda, Minister of Economic Development and Investments Tigran Khachatryan referred to the status of investment proposals. According to the minister, there are currently 56 investment projects under consideration. 38 out these projects to a total cost of USD 1.2 billion are considered to be realistic, and are currently at different stages of development. The remaining 18 programs are under discussion. According to the Minister, investment projects are related to urban development, energy, industry and other spheres.

In turn, Chairman of State Committee for Urban Development Vahagn Vermishyan advised that the number of investment proposals in the sphere of urban development is gradually increasing and should be assessed and moved forward. Reference was made to various investment proposals intended for Yerevan, as well as to the ongoing projects and problems.

Prime Minister Pashinyan considered it necessary to elaborate a general strategy for different urban development projects and to consider investment proposals.

“We need a roadmap to push ahead with our projects,” the Prime Minister said and instructed to form a working group that will elaborate the strategy in a short period of time and present relevant proposals on the issues of the projects.

The next issue on the agenda was tackling regulatory issues, including access to water, gas and electricity.

It was reported that the solution of these problems is within the framework of the Action Plan for the Improvement of the Business Environment of Armenia in 2019, which envisages about 50 activities.

Then the Prime Minister was briefed on the activities of the Armenian investment fund. Nikol Pashinyan attached importance to the active work with investors and the necessary support for the implementation of the projects.

Minister of Labor and Social Affairs Zaruhi Batoyan reported on the issue of non-deprivation of national or social benefits in the case of temporary seasonal employment, identification of all vacancies in the republic, servicing of monthly loans (100 thousand drams and more) and at the same time disclosure of persons using the social welfare system steps taken.

Particularly, in connection with the first issue, the minister reminded that the government has already adopted the relevant decision, the process is in process.

Regarding the registration of vacancies, it was noted that 3438 vacancies were registered in the republic, however, the process is underway and the Prime Minister will be provided with brief information within the next week.

Consistent efforts are also being made to provide monthly lending (100,000 drams and more) and at the same time identifying the users of the family and social benefits system.

Prime Minister Pashinyan considers such cases unacceptable and noted that it is necessary to give them legal proceedings.

Then, it was reported about the steps undertaken towards the attraction of private sector to the “revitalization,” activation and development of vocational education institutions, as well as the creation of re-training centers and re-qualification training, business skills training and continuous increase of financial literacy. :

It was reported that the works are being successfully implemented, and entrepreneurial, financial education courses in schools are of great interest among pupils. As a result, they also develop business plans in the course.

Touching upon this question, Prime Minister Pashinyan said: “I think we need to add another component in order to explain to schoolchildren what the tax is, which way it works, and how it can affect the reality. This is crucial, because I have had several occasions to hear people say that it is up to the government to solve the problem. They do not even realize that the citizen is responsible for at least one of the 10 steps in the chain of these issues. Schoolchildren should understand what the tax is and why we must pay it.

This has been talked about many times. The tax should be understood not as a burden, but as a delegated power because every single citizen cannot build a highway for himself, build a school for himself. In other words, he delegates his authority to the government to collect the money and build a road for him. Ultimately, we need to shape a general understanding that when a person pays the tax, he pays himself and does not pay to someone else. And the government’s activities should help people get into this perception.”

During the consultation, it was also reported on the steps to take in order to make an inventory of reservoir and road construction projects, initiate new projects, develop and support meat and livestock export mechanisms, as well as to prepare for the fruit and vegetable export campaign.

It was reported that 85 km-long road sections started to be rehabilitated on May 15. Another round of reconstruction will be launched on June 15. Nikol Pashinyan attached importance to the activities envisaged in this direction: “Everything should be done to upgrade 330 km-long road sections by this yearend,” the Premier said.