Friday, 16 September 2011
MCA-Armenia Governing Council Holds Last Meeting
The last 60th meeting of MCA-Armenia SNCO Governing Council was held today at the Office of Government, chaired by council head, Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan.
The meeting first discussed and approved the last 21st disbursement request with attached documents for MCC approval. MCA-Armenia expects to get USD 16, 661.0mn between October, 2011 and January, 2012. The funds so received will be used to settle the amounts due to the developers for works implemented under the Irrigated Agriculture project.
After making the stipulated payments, the total cost of the MCA-Armenia program will be USD 176,491.0mn.
The council next approved the revised schedule of program closure.
Addressing the meeting, Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan noted: “On behalf of the governing council, we owe a vote of thanks to our U.S. partners for funding and implementing the program. Immense work was done over the past five years. The results are tangible and what matters most visible to our citizens.
At the same time, we should thank the members of the governing council, including the stakeholder representatives, who were unbiased, made a valuable contribution to the program during the last five years and drafted objective reports about the regularity, transparency and openness of decision-making processes. Any detected problem was put up for public debate. We used to discuss any such problem as might give rise to doubts and controversy. This circumstance helped shape an atmosphere of confidence for the program. We should also thank Mr. Ara Hovsepyan and his staff for their five-year-long efforts.”
Noting that the work was not that easy, the head of government concluded: “I think the program was a success. We should also thank the staff of the U.S. Embassy and the representatives of the MCC Armenia office led by Mr. Alex Rassin who showed an interested approach in a bid to ensure spending efficiency. For this very reason, I wish to thank you on behalf of the government of the Republic of Armenia. Thank you.”
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On March 27, 2006, a USD 235.65mn worth five-year program arrangement was signed between the Millennium Challenge Corporation and the Government of the Republic of Armenia aimed at reducing rural poverty in Armenia through sustained growth in agriculture. The compact became effective as of September 29, 2007.
Implemented from September, 2006 to September, 2011 ,the five-year program helped MCA-Armenia SNCO improve the living standards of 420.000 rural beneficiaries in 350 communities by rehabilitating irrigation mains and pumping stations, building gravity systems and tertiary canals and, finally, by refurbishing and upgrading the drainage system of Ararat Valley.
The program inter alia included the following activities: training of about 45 thousand local farmers, technical assistance for water suppliers, USD 8.5mn worth of lending extended to farmers and entities engaged in agribusinesses. The MCC made a total of USD 177mn investment in Armenia’s farming and irrigation systems.
