1 / 4

Speaking on behalf of the Government, the RA Minister of Economy Vahan Kerobyan presented a number of facts, noting that in 2000, Armenia’s exports made up 29.4% of the GDP, and imports - 46.6%. In 2007, the share of exports in the GDP fell twice, making 15.5%, while imports remained almost the same – 43%, the trade deficit was approximately 30% of the GDP.

“In other words, we had a terribly big gap in terms of exports and imports,” the Minister said.

Vahan Kerobyan underlined that the year 2022 ended with a historical record. The ratio of exports against GDP was 48.3%, while imports were 51.3%. According to the Minister, this means that the trade gap was at the lowest historical level in that year.

Touching upon the results of the first quarter of the current year, Vahan Kerobyan stated that the export/GDP ratio exceeded the target set by the Government for 2026 and was 62.6%. “In our opinion, this is a wonderful result. At the same time, the number of imports was 64.2%. There has never been such a number in our economy,” the Minister underscored, presenting sectorial indices as well. It was noted that the volume of foreign direct investment in 2022 exceeded the limit of 1 billion dollars.

In his extraordinary speech, the governor of Syunik region Robert Ghukasyan presented the programmes implemented in the region in 2022 with state funding.

According to the rapporteur, the allocations were mainly aimed at the implementation of subsidy programmes, the solution of problems requiring a priority solution, the financing of public education, and the provision of community subsidies.

“In 2022, 28 programmes were implemented in Syunik region,” the governor informed and added that in 2023, 6.6 billion AMD worth of work was planned, and in 2024, about 11 billion AMD.

Touching upon the activity of the inter-departmental working group created by the RA Prime Minister’s decision, Robert Ghukasyan stated that the group has implemented programmes worth 1.78 billion AMD in the region: about 400 small agricultural machinery was provided to the border settlements.

The governor spoke about 13 apartments being built in Shurnukh village, noting. “Soon that programme will be completed and the residents of Shurnukh will return to their new homes.”

It was emphasized that the investments in the field of education were unprecedented.

Robert Ghukasyan also spoke about the work carried out on solving people’s housing, food and other problems due to the closing of the Lachin Corridor.

According to the Minister of High-Tech Industry Robert Khachatryan, in 2022, 16.4 billion AMD was allocated from the state budget to the field of high-tech industry, the actual performance was 15 billion AMD.

“In 2022, as a new development target and a new initiative, the funds allocated from the state budget were also directed to the launch of Armenia’s first remote observation satellite and the acquisition of space photographs,” the Minister mentioned.

According to the rapporteur, the allocations from the state budget for the development of the sector were directed to the targeted requalification of personnel, increasing the recognition and promotion of Armenian products, as well as providing support to local companies, promoting the creation of new companies.

The Minister of Labor and Social Affairs Narek Mkrtchyan presented the work implemented in the field of labor and social protection according to programmes and measures.

The actual expenditure of the Ministry last year was 613.6 billion AMD, within the framework of which 123 measures were carried out under 16 programmes. The performance was 98.9%.

“In 2022, in the field of social protection, we have expanded cooperation with civil society and about 730 million AMD has been provided to public organizations,” the Minister informed.

Narek Mkrtchyan also touched upon the measures implemented in the field of demography in 2022.