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ZAHIDUL HUQUE: ARMENIA HAS TREMENDOUS POTENTIAL DUE TO ITS HUMAN CAPITAL
December 23, 2014 14:19
EXCLUSIVE
The demographic situation in Armenia raises concerns mainly with regard
to three issues: low fertility, aging and migration. According to the
National Statistical Service of Armenia (NSS,) the fertility rate is
1.5 children per woman, while for simple reproduction of population it
should be 2.1 and higher. The share of population of ages 65 or older
is 11.1%. According to UN classification, a population is considered
old when this indicator exceeds 7%. During the last 10 years, the
total mortality rate has increased by around 13.3%. According to NSS
estimates, Armenia's population will be 2.9 million in 2035.
Mediamax talked to UNFPA Representative for Turkey and Country Director
for Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia Dr. Zahidul Huque.
- Mr. Huque, which are the most critical demographic challenges
Armenia faces today?
- As you might know, the entire Eastern Europe is experiencing low
fertility. It is part of demographic transition, and Armenia is not
an exception. But Armenia has been facing high level of migration
over the years and this has caused Armenia to suffer more than other
countries. In terms of low fertility, Armenia and Georgia are almost
comparable. Population growth in Georgia is even less than in Armenia.
I think the most important challenge is lack of enough investments
for young population - in education, health, building capacity and
job opportunities. From my perspective, all these issues set major
concern for Armenia. But Armenia has tremendous potential due to its
human capital. Young Armenian people are very vibrant, intellectual
and what we need to do is invest in them. In this case, your country
will have brighter future than it has now.
- There are many speculations that Armenia's current demographic
situation is alarming. Do you agree with it?
- I don't think so. I think there is lack of understanding of the
situation. As I said, many parts of the world are going through this
transition. All they need is to rethink how to reposition themselves
in the context of low fertility and high level of migration. Beyond
doubt, they need pension reforms as well as reforms in labor markets.
It will definitely help Armenia.
It is crucial to involve the young in pension and aging policy-making
process. We saw it in case of Albania, and it produced very dramatic
results. Young people think about their own future, and there was no
fight between young and older generation. The young population plays
a fundamental role in this kind of policy-making.
- Could you please present the demographic situation in Georgia
and Azerbaijan?
- Aging is actually a serious issue for Georgia as well. Life
expectancy in Georgia is quite high, fertility is low. But Georgia
has privatized a lot of sectors and some of the burdens are shared
among the private sector. Georgia has gone a little bit extreme in
this direction. Total privatization is not a solution, but selective
privatization might be, take the U.S. There should me partnership
between the private and public sectors. As to Azerbaijan, the country's
economy is blooming and they should invest in the social sector. Every
time I visit Azerbaijan, I say they need to invest in the social
sector, otherwise the situation there might be like what we see in
the Middle East countries, which are rich in oil but did not invest in
education, health and other social sectors. It was a serious problem
for those countries, and the same might happen with Azerbaijan -
quality of education and healthcare raise serious concerns.
- You might be well aware of selective abortion in Armenia. Recently
the Armenian PM spoke about this issue and assigned the government
bodies to submit an Action Plan until March 2015. How will you assess
the sex selection situation in Armenia?
- Firstly, it is a serious concern not only for Armenia, but for the
whole region. The question of gender equality is the primary cause
of the problem. The solution lies in our understanding and mindset
- how the girl child is valued in the society. We need to bring to
society the idea that girls are equally important, and they have a
right to equal rights and job opportunities. This understanding must
be the basis of the decision-making process.
Yekaterina Poghosyan talked to Zahidul Huque
http://www.mediamax.am/en/news/interviews/12692/#sthash.RGNo4OX6.dpuf
December 23, 2014 14:19
EXCLUSIVE
The demographic situation in Armenia raises concerns mainly with regard
to three issues: low fertility, aging and migration. According to the
National Statistical Service of Armenia (NSS,) the fertility rate is
1.5 children per woman, while for simple reproduction of population it
should be 2.1 and higher. The share of population of ages 65 or older
is 11.1%. According to UN classification, a population is considered
old when this indicator exceeds 7%. During the last 10 years, the
total mortality rate has increased by around 13.3%. According to NSS
estimates, Armenia's population will be 2.9 million in 2035.
Mediamax talked to UNFPA Representative for Turkey and Country Director
for Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia Dr. Zahidul Huque.
- Mr. Huque, which are the most critical demographic challenges
Armenia faces today?
- As you might know, the entire Eastern Europe is experiencing low
fertility. It is part of demographic transition, and Armenia is not
an exception. But Armenia has been facing high level of migration
over the years and this has caused Armenia to suffer more than other
countries. In terms of low fertility, Armenia and Georgia are almost
comparable. Population growth in Georgia is even less than in Armenia.
I think the most important challenge is lack of enough investments
for young population - in education, health, building capacity and
job opportunities. From my perspective, all these issues set major
concern for Armenia. But Armenia has tremendous potential due to its
human capital. Young Armenian people are very vibrant, intellectual
and what we need to do is invest in them. In this case, your country
will have brighter future than it has now.
- There are many speculations that Armenia's current demographic
situation is alarming. Do you agree with it?
- I don't think so. I think there is lack of understanding of the
situation. As I said, many parts of the world are going through this
transition. All they need is to rethink how to reposition themselves
in the context of low fertility and high level of migration. Beyond
doubt, they need pension reforms as well as reforms in labor markets.
It will definitely help Armenia.
It is crucial to involve the young in pension and aging policy-making
process. We saw it in case of Albania, and it produced very dramatic
results. Young people think about their own future, and there was no
fight between young and older generation. The young population plays
a fundamental role in this kind of policy-making.
- Could you please present the demographic situation in Georgia
and Azerbaijan?
- Aging is actually a serious issue for Georgia as well. Life
expectancy in Georgia is quite high, fertility is low. But Georgia
has privatized a lot of sectors and some of the burdens are shared
among the private sector. Georgia has gone a little bit extreme in
this direction. Total privatization is not a solution, but selective
privatization might be, take the U.S. There should me partnership
between the private and public sectors. As to Azerbaijan, the country's
economy is blooming and they should invest in the social sector. Every
time I visit Azerbaijan, I say they need to invest in the social
sector, otherwise the situation there might be like what we see in
the Middle East countries, which are rich in oil but did not invest in
education, health and other social sectors. It was a serious problem
for those countries, and the same might happen with Azerbaijan -
quality of education and healthcare raise serious concerns.
- You might be well aware of selective abortion in Armenia. Recently
the Armenian PM spoke about this issue and assigned the government
bodies to submit an Action Plan until March 2015. How will you assess
the sex selection situation in Armenia?
- Firstly, it is a serious concern not only for Armenia, but for the
whole region. The question of gender equality is the primary cause
of the problem. The solution lies in our understanding and mindset
- how the girl child is valued in the society. We need to bring to
society the idea that girls are equally important, and they have a
right to equal rights and job opportunities. This understanding must
be the basis of the decision-making process.
Yekaterina Poghosyan talked to Zahidul Huque
http://www.mediamax.am/en/news/interviews/12692/#sthash.RGNo4OX6.dpuf