ASHTARAK, JULY 9, NOYAN TAPAN. The World Bank Regional Director for the South Caucasus Asad Alam, who is on a working visit to Yerevan, on July 8 visited the villages of Aghdzk, Vardenut, Ara and Mulk in Aragatsotn marz to familiarize himself with the implementation process of WB-funded programs there. He was accompanied by the WB Yerevan Office Head Aristomene Varudakis. The work on installation of a gas network is being done in Aghdzk under the WB program on development of rural enterprises and small-scale commercial agriculture. The program's cost is 2 million USD, 53 million drams of which has been allocated for the gas network installation. 15% of the sum necessary for the indicated work has been paid by the local residents. The WB representatives also become acquainted with the process of repairs of 3,5-km road connecting Vardenut and Ara villages. The road was previously in poor condition and almost impassable in the winter, which resulted in problems for the local population. At the end of his visit, A. Alam went to Mulk village where a pumping unit for drinking water is being built thanks to the additional financiang of 8 million USD allocated by the WB to the Social Investment Fund of Armenia. Attaching importance to the implementation of the indicated programs, A. Alam said that they will have a positive impact on the communities in terms of raising their standard of living. After the installation of a gas network in Aghdzk village, about 600 families, the school and the kindergarten will have heating, as a result of which fewer trees will be cut down. The repairs of rural roads will result in higher competitiveness and prosperity of the community as the village will have a link to a republican highway and the transportation costs of agricultural products will decline.

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