Pashinyan says 2022 budget to focus on three main priorities

YEREVAN, September 30. /ARKA/. Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan told Cabinet members today that the state budget, designed for 2022 is focusing on three main priorities: reforming the country’s security system, developing infrastructures, and modernizing education and science.

"We will be paying greater attention to ensuring our security, without which it will be impossible to achieve long-term development goals. In this regard, it is important not only to modernize the defense potential of the armed forces, but also to create a favorable external environment around Armenia, and to consistently implement the agenda for opening an era of peaceful development for Armenia, Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) and the region," he said.

In this context, Pashinyan singled out the importance of reopening and developing regional economic and transport infrastructures, which he said could  change substantially the content and structure of the Armenian economy, become an additional stimulus for the development of internal infrastructures, and ensure long-term investment economic growth.

He said also that equal conditions will be created for the citizens of Armenia to be involved in economic activity.

"The development of education in this context is of key importance. Accessibility of education, inclusive development and meaningful changes are our long-term priorities. Our goal is to make human education and consistent development a way of life. This is the only way to be a competitive nation in the modern world," he said.

He stressed that the development of technology and science is a logical continuation of this process, and the government is already introducing new formats of financing.

"Of course, it is impossible to solve all the issues faced by the government with one budget; we must get out of the inertial slippage of "doing everything and doing nothing, “ he said.

"We are confident that the government's program will be successfully implemented to ensure the security, well-being and dignified life of the citizens of Armenia," he said.

At today's meeting, the Armenian government approved the draft state budget for 2022, which calls for 1 trillion 946.2 billion drams in revenue,  2 trillion 188.5 billion drams in spending (18.2% more than in 2021).