Today, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan left for Shirak Province on a working visit. During the consultation held in Gyumri, the Prime Minister was presented with the performance report 2022 of Shirak regional administration and the progress of projects implemented in the current year.

Minister of Territorial Administration and Infrastructure Gnel Sanosyan, Head of State Supervision Service Romanos Petrosyan, Shirak Governor Mushegh Muradyan, Deputy Minister of Economy Arman Khojoyan and other officials participated in the consultation.

Regarding the process of collecting own revenues of the municipal budgets, it was noted that the increase compared to 2021 was 16.3 percent in 2022. In 2022, 3 billion 346.3 million AMD were collected.

Information was presented about subsidy programs implemented in 2018-2022, according to which 203 programs, 435 sub-programs were implemented during the reporting period. In total, 8.9 billion AMD was allocated for 175 projects implemented during the mentioned period. In particular, the following subsidy programs were implemented: water supply/drainage, asphalting, gas supply, repair of kindergartens, public buildings, purchase of machinery, etc. For the year 2023, 32 programs, 130 sub-programs have been approved with a total budget of 9 billion 500 million AMD.

Agricultural land in the region is 210 thousand 976 ha, of which 15 thousand ha are irrigated. 46 thousand 084 hectares of land were cultivated out of 76 thousand hectares of cultivated land, which is 5 thousand hectares more than in 2021. During the reporting period, in particular, subsidization of loan interest in the amount of 3.8 billion AMD was implemented, 1 billion 302 million AMD wheat production program, 32 million AMD cattle breeding program, 123.4 million AMD agricultural machinery leasing, etc. were implemented in the region. During the previous year, 1,700 hectares of orchards were insured, compared to 1,400 hectares in 2021.

Capital investments of 23 billion 725 million AMD were made in the field of urban development in 2022 with the funds of the state budget and other financial sources. In particular, 2.7 billion AMD were invested in housing construction, 2.9 billion AMD in construction of educational, cultural and sports facilities, 1.9 billion AMD in water supply and drainage, 7.8 billion AMD in road construction, 487 million AMD in gas supply, etc.

In the reporting period, in the field of road construction, major repair of 62 km of interstate, republican and local highways were carried out, of which 51.78 were of republican significance. The construction of the North-South highway is in progress, the construction works of the Lanjik-Gyumri road section are in progress.

There are 27 medical institutions operating in the region, 6 of which provide in-hospital, 22 out-of-hospital services, and 1 is an emergency medical aid station. 15 of the medical facilities are in good condition, 7 are in need of repair, and 5 are in need of reconstruction. The reconstruction works of the latter are included in the Government's Action Plan for 2021-2026, and for this purpose more than 2 billion AMD will be allocated.

There are 124 pre-school education institutions in Shirak Province, attended by 5425 children. 6 kindergartens were built, 2 were repaired, 11 were reconstructed, and 1 kindergarten was overhauled in 2018-2022. in 2023, 9 kindergartens are being built, 10 are being repaired, 1 is being reconstructed, and 7 are being overhauled. Landscaping works are being carried out in 10 kindergartens, property has been acquired for 23 kindergartens.

The building condition of 49 schools in the region is assessed as satisfactory, and 91 are in need of repair. 22 schools need reconstruction and construction, 32 schools need gymnasium construction. During the previous year, the construction works of three modular schools started. 1124 teachers passed mandatory certification, 156 voluntarily. During the previous year, the building conditions of 22 schools were improved. Within the framework of the Government's program to build "300 schools and 500 kindergartens", the construction of 5 schools and 15 kindergartens are in progress in Shirak Province

Reference was made to the construction works of the Kapsi reservoir, as a result of which it is planned to irrigate 23 thousand hectares of land. Within the framework of the project, it is planned to resettle the families of the Jradzor settlement, the construction works of the new village have started.

Developments in the field of tourism, culture and sports were also referred to.

It was reported that the capital investments in Shirak Province within the framework of various programs reach 60 billion AMD.

Summarizing the consultation, the Prime Minister first referred to the developments in the field of agriculture. In particular, Nikol Pashinyan emphasized that the old and inefficient forms of plant breeding and animal husbandry are losing competitiveness, the farmers should take advantage of the modern agriculture programs implemented by the Government. "We need to encourage the production of crops of the high price segment," said the Head of the Government. The Prime Minister also emphasized the implementation of follow-up works in the direction of ensuring food safety, the promotion of slaughterhouses.

The Prime Minister also inquired about the number of unemployed people and the number of available jobs and instructed that active work be carried out to implement training programs and raise people's abilities to suit the available jobs. Nikol Pashinyan also emphasized the need to ensure the financial stability of healthcare institutions. Speaking about the construction of kindergartens, the Prime Minister considered it necessary to expand nursery schools in the country. "Implementation of quality investments in the field of education and health care is one of our priority tasks," the Head of Government emphasized.