| News Release-World Bank Managing Director Visits Armenia |
The inefficiencies of the Armenia country office - with its limited space and many inconveniences - are now a thing of the past. Now located on a single floor in one of the newly constructed business centers in Yerevan, this means a real change in the way the World Bank and IFC staff do business in Armenia.
The new office was inaugurated this past weekend by Managing Director Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala and the Prime Minister of Armenia. The distinguished guests, accompanied by Asad Alam, Regional Director for South Caucasus, and Country Manager Aristomene Varoudakis, made a tour of the new office.
"Congratulations to all of you," said Tigran Sargsyan, Prime Minister of Armenia. "The World Bank and IFC staff can now provide their services with even higher quality, which means more effectiveness of all the projects and services we are implementing jointly."
"Mr. Prime Minister, thank you for joining us today despite your busy schedule," said World Bank Managing Director Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala. "Your presence demonstrates the mark of a long-lasting and productive partnership between the Government of Armenia and the World Bank Group."
Cabinet members, project implementation units, representatives of the private sector, civil society, academia, and donor community joined World Bank staff for the opening reception.
"I am very pleased to welcome all of you," said Okonjo-Iweala. "We have a very important work program here in Armenia. I also want to congratulate Mr. Vahram Nercissiantz, present here tonight, who was the first representative of the World Bank in Armenia. This is a great outcome of what you began in early 90s. Congratulations to all."
"We are very proud to have supported Armenia during the difficult years in 90s as well as during the success years when Armenia worked hard to reduce poverty," stressed Okonjo-Iweala. "The Bank has supported Armenia with US$1.3 billion, and we have now an active portfolio of 21 projects with commitments of half a billion US dollars. The last year has been difficult not just for Armenia, but for the whole world. You should know that Armenia is one of the countries that have followed the right countercyclical policies and steps to counter the global downturn for which it was not responsible. In the past few months, we assisted Armenia to implement projects that will create employment in the economy."
Okonjo-Iweala continued, "Today I spent almost seven hours in the field. The first thing that impressed me was the warmth of the Armenian people. It was beautiful. We visited villages where we support gas connection. The women were so happy to have better opportunities for heating and cooking. We also visited a school and rural roads constructed with our support, and we visited a poultry firm that has created jobs despite the crisis. Each one of these projects showed different sides of Armenian entrepreneurship and willingness to work. One thing that struck me is the speed in which Armenia implemented the projects. Within the space of three months, the Government has delivered and procured all the services and constructed up to 100 km of rural roads. That is very impressive."
Okonjo-Iweala discussed the future economic challenges and opportunities facing the country. "There are ample future opportunities, with a possible free trade agreement with the EU and the possible border opening with Turkey. But to take advantage of these opportunities, the country has to introduce more competition into the economy, a greater degree of transparency in doing business, and increase its fiscal efforts. I am excited to visit a country with such enormous potential, and I very much look forward to the World Bank Group supporting the Armenian people on this."
Among the guests was Vahram Nercissiantz, Chief Economic Adviser to the Armenian President and first World Bank Group representative in Armenia who established the office in Yerevan back in 1993.
"I am delighted to be present on this important occasion, and welcome Ngozi who came such a long way to be with us today," said Nercissiantz. "The credit for the knowledge and experience accumulated in the country throughout the years should be shared with the World Bank. Allow me to thank the staff and the management of the World Bank for their valuable contribution towards Armenia’s transition and development."
RSS