Armenia shares experience in cooperation between public and private sectors in running water resources with international colleagues

YEREVAN, November 14. /ARKA/. Armenia shared its experience in cooperation between public and private sectors in running water resources with participants of a seminar held on November 12 and 13 in Tsakhkadzor, the press office of the Asian Development Bank reported. Delegations from Pakistan, Uzbekistan, East Timor, the Philippines, Moldova, Georgia and Ukraine took part in the seminar. ADB Resident Representative in Armenia David Dole said that the first program the Asian Development Bank financed in 2007 was the Water Supply and Sewerage Program. He said that the bank attached importance to improvement of water supply to residents of rural and urban communities and to the steps taken by the private sector for improving water economy. In his words, thanks to the financing provided by the Asian Development Bank, Armenian Water Canal can ensure clean and safe water supply to 30 cities and 161 villages in the country. Armenia is one of few countries where public and private sectors have partnered to supply water. Their cooperation began in 2000. Now the country’s all water-supplying companies are run by international operators. The reforms implemented in this area have improved services, extended water supply duration. The company is now among Armenia’s top taxpayers and the government has cut subsidies for this area. International development banks provide financial and technical assistance for modernization of water supply system and improvement of management of water resources in Armenia. The Asian Development Bank, the European Investment Bank, the Euroepan bank for Reconstruction and Development and the World Bank are among them. The seminar was organized by the State Water Committee and the Asian Development Bank in cooperation with European Investment Bank. --0-----