Aviation reforms discussed at Armenian premier’s office

YEREVAN, August 6. /ARKA/. Armenia’s premier Hovik Abrahamyan discussed on Wednesday reforms in aviation with representatives of international donor organizations, the government press office reported.

The meeting was attended by representatives of USAID, the World Bank, IMF Yerevan office, IDeA Foundation and public agencies.

The sides considered a wide range of issues on the ‘open air’ policy approved by the government recently. The implemented works and further joint steps were discussed.

The parties stressed the importance of development of a program and concrete steps as part of the ‘open air’ policy and of coordinated steps to raise the public awareness and elaborate tourism development strategies.

The premier said the government took ongoing measures to raise the competitiveness of the local aviation market, to attract new air companies to the country and to improve the legal framework. Support from donors in the field and involvement of foreign experts in reform implementation is important, the premier said.

Reps of international organizations, in their turn, appreciated the steps taken by the Armenian government to boost development of tourism and aviation in the country and expressed their willingness to support the reforms.

The ‘open air’ policy backed by the cabinet in October 2013 is a program to ensure competitive conditions in aviation services. The program is based on a joint study by “McKinsey & Company” and Armenia’s National Competitiveness Fund. –0--