Armenian president holds opening ceremony for North Avenue

YEREVAN, October 16. /ARKA/. RA President Robert Kocharyan has held an opening ceremony for North Avenue in Yerevan. Speaking at the ceremony, Kocharyan stated that the construction has been of paramount importance for Armenia’s capital.

“When Narek Sargsyan [Chief Architect of Yerevan] showed me the model of North Avenue, I lost peace and immediately decided that the avenue must be constructed within the shortest possible period,” Kocharyan said.

According to him, the importance of the project for Armenia’s economic development, particularly for the country’s construction industry, was difficult to imagine at the beginning. Kocharyan pointed out that the construction industry ensures 20% of Armenia’s GDP and is the country’s economic locomotive.

“Dozens of thousands of people found jobs due to the construction of North Avenue. The construction industry has been completely reformed, and up-to-date technologies have been introduced over the last few years,” the President said. He added that North Avenue will ensure employment for over a thousand citizens. Kocharyan pointed out that Armenia badly needs skilled builders. “Armenia’s capital has received the second visiting card after its Republic Square. For me Yerevan has become the world’s most attractive city,” Kocharyan said.

The construction of North Avenue got under way in autumn 2001. The project cost a total of 101bln AMD ($316mln). P.T. –0--