YEREVAN, AUGUST 15, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister of Armenia Hovik Abrahamyan paid a working visit to Lori province of Armenia, press service of the Government informed “Armenpress”.

The Prime Minister first visited a poultry farm in Spitak, where he was briefed on the ongoing activities and future investment plans.

Operational since June 2015, the farm has 8 henhouses, as well as feed preparation and slaughtering units. The construction of 4 henhouses is underway, due to be complete in October. Each henhouse has a capacity of 27-30 thousand heads of poultry.

It was noted that the product is sold in Armenia. The company produced 840 thousand kg of poultry last year, around 914 thousand kg - this year. The factory has 120 employees. In 2015, 5 billion AMD was invested for construction and production purposes. In 2016, 400 million AMD was invested for the construction of henhouses.

The Prime Minister then visited the technological center in Vanadzor, which was built with an investment of 1, 222 million AMD. The center’s construction is fully completed. One-year study courses are being held for IT specialists. 160 IT specialists have already attended the courses. Some of them are employed at well-known companies, including their branches in Vanadzor.

Courses are organized for different target groups, particularly for schoolchildren (10-14 years old). The center also hosts computer engineering courses.

PM Abrahamyan attached importance to the establishment of the Vanadzor technological center, noting that the Government will continue to focus on the IT industry as it has great potential for development in our country.

The PM visited the site of Vanadzor cableway, where he was briefed on the activities aimed at re-commissioning the cableway. The cableway will be 1,300 meters long and will be furnished with a 2,500-meter-long ski run. The cost of the project is estimated at 2.5 million Euros.

The cableway is expected to promote tourism in Vanadzor, and the city will become a ski tourism center. As a result, new jobs will be created not only for the cable cars operation and maintenance, but also in hotels and other service industries.

The Head of Government was reported progress in the construction of Vanadzor hospital complex. Interior decoration was said underway at the three-story hospital at this point of time. The facility, which has 150 beds, will be operational in 2017. 3,700 million AMD has been allocated from the State budget to implement the program. The maternity ward was built with funds available from Tashir charitable foundation.

Hovik Abrahamyan stressed the importance of quality and timely implementation of construction work and gave relevant instructions.

The PM’s visit was to Avtogen M machine-building factory in Vanadzor, where Hovik Abrahamyan observed the production processes and development programs. It was reported that the plant produces thermal metal cutting machines, oxygen hand-welding and cutting equipment. The output is exported to Russia and other CIS countries. 435 million AMD-worth output was sold in 2015, with nearly 290 million AMD -worth output realized during the first 7 months of 2016. 100 people worked in the factory last year, while the number of staff has reached 130 this year.

Prime Minister Abrahamyan was told that there is a new investment plan, which provides for increased production volume, range of products and jobs. The company is set to enter new markets and expand the range of consumer goods.

Welcoming the initiative, the Prime Minister said that the Government is ready to discuss options and opportunities for supporting the development plan.

Addressing reporters, Prime Minister Abrahamyan said numerous projects are scheduled for implementation in Lori province, including the refurbishment of kindergarten N11 and the reconstruction of Secondary School No. 7 in Vanadzor. Underway is the construction of the hospital complex, for which money has been earmarked from the State budget.

Hovik Abrahamyan advised that funds will be available from the Asian Development Bank to implement large-scale infrastructure development projects in Lori province. In Vanadzor alone, 20 million USD will be invested to carry out projects in many areas.

The PM expressed confidence that the projected investments will promote economic revival in Lori province. In this regard, Hovik Abrahamyan highlighted the activity of the technology center in Vanadzor.

Hovik Abrahamyan left Vanadzor for the 39.6-km-long road section of M-6 Agarak-Odzun highway in Stepanavan region. To implement the project, a total of 3.5 billion AMD has been invested, of which 700 million allocated from the State budget, with the balance contributed by the World Bank.

Noting that road construction is of paramount socio-economic importance, the Prime Minister expressed confidence that the nearly 40 km-long road section will contribute to the economic development of surrounding communities. The Head of Government took the opportunity to meet with Yaghdan community inhabitants. Hovik Abrahamyan listened to their concerns and answered their questions.

The Prime Minister next visited the Stepanavan Polyclinic, where reconstruction is scheduled due to be complete in the first half of 2017. Armenia’s Regional Development Fund has allocated 182 million drams to this end. Note that the polyclinic serves about 28 thousand people.

At the end, PM Abrahamyan visited Gyulagarak community, where a new kindergarten is being built. About 200 million AMD has been invested to this end. The residents of Gyulagarak thanked the Head of Government for supporting the program.