A Cabinet meeting was held, chaired by Prime Minister Karen Karapetyan. Before proceeding to the agenda, the Prime Minister issued a number of instructions.
The Head of Government first gave the ministers of Agriculture, Territorial Administration and Development, the Head of State Water Management Committee and the Marz Governors a month’s time to take the necessary measures to remit the fees overdue and the arrears of land tax, irrigation water, as well as the amounts to be paid for the seeds provided under the State assistance programs by those landowners having suffered 80-100% losses because of natural disasters.
Touching upon the priority of balanced territorial development, Karen Karapetyan instructed the Minister of Territorial Administration and Development to submit to the Government Staff within a month’s time a draft procedure for annual assessment of the efficiency of Governors’ work.
To enhance efficiency in the management of water resources, the Premier instructed the Head of State Water Management Committee to conduct a relevant study within a two-month period and submit to the Government Staff jointly with the Ministers of Nature Protection, Agriculture, Territorial Administration and Development and Emergency Situations recommendations and financial estimates concerning the construction of medium-sized and small water reservoirs in Armenia.
With a view to increasing management efficiency, ensuring transparency and a favorable business environment with the use of up-to-date information technology, the Government decided to set up the Digital Armenia Fund and approved its charter.
The Fund’s establishment is conditioned by the need to bring to completion Armenia’s digital agenda, namely development of a new digital strategy, formation of a unified digital environment in all spheres of public governance, modernization of public administration and local self-governance systems.
In order to develop the economic component of Armenia’s foreign policy, the Cabinet approved the economic criteria for targeting of foreign countries, as well as the standards for establishing the list of targeted countries and the assessment of Armenia’s foreign diplomatic missions’ performance.
The Government made a decision to establish the Meghri Free Economic Zone Closed Joint-Stock Company and authorize the Ministry of Economic Development and Investments to manage the company’s 100% state-owned shareholding package. According to the reference note, as a EAEU-member State, benefiting from a preferential trade regime arrangement with the European Union, a common border and a FEZ with Iran, boasting an attractive investment and business environment as evidenced by international ratings, Armenia can attract investors for the launch of export-oriented ventures with the use of commercial and logistic capabilities offered by our country’s geographical location.
The FEZ project implies a stage-by-stage implementation. In the first stage, it is envisaged to develop a site adjacent to the Meghri customs checkpoint in order to provide the key production and storage areas, which will allow unimpeded access to the Iranian market.
In conclusion, the Executive approved the strategy for the fight against smoking and the 2017-2020 Action Plan. The program is aimed at upgrading the population’s health standards, reducing the risk of non-infectious diseases and curbing the scope of tobacco use.