ARMENIA MAINTAINED STABLE MACROECONOMIC GROWTH IN 2007,
EUROPEAN COMMISSION REPORT MENTIONS
11-07-2008 18:30:00 | Armenia | Economy
YEREVAN, JULY 11, NOYAN TAPAN. In 2007 Armenia maintained
stable macroeconomic growth: the two-digit index of the
economic growth is mainly due to the growth in the sphere of
construction done in the country and in the sphere of services,
as well as transfers of Armenians working abroad. This was
mentioned in the European Commission's report on Armenia in 2007
presented by Lusine Movsisian, the First Secretary of the RA
Foreign Ministry EU Department, at a discussion on the
subject Monitoring of European Neighborhood Policy Actions Plan
organized on July 11 in Yerevan.
In her words, as compared with the previous years, Armenia
improved its business environment in 2007, but some work still
need to be done in the direction of improving the investment
sphere.
According to the report, progress was also recorded in
Armenia's tax sphere, which is encouraged by EU. According to
L. Movsisian, EU calls RA authorities for continuing reforms in
the tax sphere and administration, at the same time, proposes
creating a tax collection advisory body for the business
environment.
L. Movsisian said that reforms implemented in the sphere of
energy are also encouraged by EU. In particular, a document and
actions plan on a new energy strategy was adopted in 2007.
Besides, the security of Metsamor nuclear power plant was raised
and the authorities of the body regulating the sphere of nuclear
power plant's operation were expanded last year. According to L.
Movsisian, Armenia plans to build a new nuclear power plant and
it is possible that EU provide a credit for the
construction of the power plant. "Nuclear power plant's
construction is also important for Europe, as due to growth in
prices for gas and oil, the role of secure nuclear energy has
increased in the world," L. Movsisian said.