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ARMENIA MAY TRY TO AGAIN QUALIFY FOR MILLENNIUM CHALLENGES CORPORATION'S AID
ARKA
Sep 5, 2011
YEREVAN, September 5. / ARKA /. The U.S.-government-run Millennium
Challenges Corporation (MCC) is ending its projects in Armenia, Ara
Hovsepian, head of Millennium Challenges Armenia, said today, adding
that Armenia may try to qualify again for the second time for U.S.
government aid, but to do so it must comply with several criteria.
On March 27, 2006 the Millennium Challenge Corporation signed a
five-year, $235.65 million Compact with the Government of Armenia. The
Compact was focused on one goal: reduction of rural poverty through a
sustainable increase in the economic performance of the agricultural
sector.
Armenia planned to achieve this goal through a five-year program of
strategic investments in rural roads, irrigation infrastructure and
technical and financial assistance to improve the supply of water
and to support farmers and agribusinesses. The Program was to have a
direct impact on approximately 750,000 people, or 75% of the rural
population, and was expected to reduce the rural poverty rate and
boost annual incomes.
On September 29, 2006 the Compact officially entered into force.
Later, in June 2009, the MCC board made a decision to suspend of the
MCA-Armenia components - Rural road rehabilitation Project, with a
$67 million budget to rehabilitate up to 350 kilometers of rural roads.
"A similar program is necessary to solve the grater part of problems in
irrigation area, but for that Armenia should comply with requirements
of MCC, both political and social," Hovsepian said at a press
conference on Monday .
He said Millennium Challenges Armenia ends officially all its
projects in Armenia on September 29. According to him, as a result
of the program six main sections of water mains were rehabilitated,
17 key pump stations were upgraded and refurbished, 5 new gravity-fed
irrigation systems were set up and about 100 farm canals and parts
of the drainage systems in the Ararat Valley were restored.
The latest calculations reveal that the number of Irrigation
Infrastructure and Water-To-Market activity beneficiaries is more
than 427.000, which means that these people in 350 communities would
directly or indirectly benefit from the program.
Hovsepian said the money spent helped improve and boost agriculture
in the country, but "this is not enough and there are still many
unresolved issues that need funding.".
ARKA
Sep 5, 2011
YEREVAN, September 5. / ARKA /. The U.S.-government-run Millennium
Challenges Corporation (MCC) is ending its projects in Armenia, Ara
Hovsepian, head of Millennium Challenges Armenia, said today, adding
that Armenia may try to qualify again for the second time for U.S.
government aid, but to do so it must comply with several criteria.
On March 27, 2006 the Millennium Challenge Corporation signed a
five-year, $235.65 million Compact with the Government of Armenia. The
Compact was focused on one goal: reduction of rural poverty through a
sustainable increase in the economic performance of the agricultural
sector.
Armenia planned to achieve this goal through a five-year program of
strategic investments in rural roads, irrigation infrastructure and
technical and financial assistance to improve the supply of water
and to support farmers and agribusinesses. The Program was to have a
direct impact on approximately 750,000 people, or 75% of the rural
population, and was expected to reduce the rural poverty rate and
boost annual incomes.
On September 29, 2006 the Compact officially entered into force.
Later, in June 2009, the MCC board made a decision to suspend of the
MCA-Armenia components - Rural road rehabilitation Project, with a
$67 million budget to rehabilitate up to 350 kilometers of rural roads.
"A similar program is necessary to solve the grater part of problems in
irrigation area, but for that Armenia should comply with requirements
of MCC, both political and social," Hovsepian said at a press
conference on Monday .
He said Millennium Challenges Armenia ends officially all its
projects in Armenia on September 29. According to him, as a result
of the program six main sections of water mains were rehabilitated,
17 key pump stations were upgraded and refurbished, 5 new gravity-fed
irrigation systems were set up and about 100 farm canals and parts
of the drainage systems in the Ararat Valley were restored.
The latest calculations reveal that the number of Irrigation
Infrastructure and Water-To-Market activity beneficiaries is more
than 427.000, which means that these people in 350 communities would
directly or indirectly benefit from the program.
Hovsepian said the money spent helped improve and boost agriculture
in the country, but "this is not enough and there are still many
unresolved issues that need funding.".