YEREVAN, JANUARY 17, ARMENPRESS. Armenia’s Prime Minister Karen Karapetyan on January 17 held a meeting with member of the Board of Directors of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) Frans Weekers, press service of the Government told “Armenpress”.

The PM assessed effectively the cooperation, numerous joint projects with the EBRD and expressed readiness on behalf of the Government to deepen it.

PM Karapetyan attached importance to the continuation of assistance programs provided by the bank to the private sector and stated: “During the visits to Armenia’s provinces we are considering and summarizing numerous projects within the frames of which we want to cooperate with the private sector and as a tool we will be interested if the EBRD will be interested in cooperation with that directions. The government aims to boost the activeness of the business environment with various measures, and this can become a process on changing the business environment since the presented ideas are developed and become projects with concrete business logic”.

Taking into account the great working experience of investors with the EBRD, the PM proposed to consider the partnership opportunities on the sidelines of the Government’s Center for Strategic Initiatives and the investment fund to be established soon.

Karen Karapetyan attached importance to the joint work with the bank over the development of legislation related to the public-private sector cooperation and establishment of business ombudsman’s institute.

In his turn Frans Weekers said Armenia and the EBRD have a long-term successful experience of cooperation within the framework of which a number of joint projects and initiatives were implemented. He welcomed the Government’s steps aimed at improving the business environment and boosting private investment in the current economic situation. He said the initiatives of the establishment of the Center for Strategic Initiatives and the investment fund is promising, stating that the EBRD is ready to develop the cooperation at directions outlined by the PM.

The sides also discussed issues related to the ongoing strategy of EBRD-Armenia partnership.