Armenia announces $305 million coronavirus economic aid packageMarch 18, 2020 - 20:14 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan on Wednesday, March 18 announced a AMD 150 billion ($305 million) economic aid package aimed at easing the impacts of the novel coronavirus. In an interview with Shant TV, Pashinyan said the first batch of AMD 25 billion (approx. $50 million) will be distributed among companies that will borrow money to pay salaries, taxes, utilities and buy raw materials. The government is also planning to subsidize agricultural loans to reduce the interest rates to 0%, Pashinyan said. According to him, an urgent social assistance package of AMD 30 billion ($61 million) will be aimed at "preventing the decline of the social situation." Furthermore, AMD 80 billion will be invested in innovative projects, the Prime Minister said. Also Wednesday, Pashinyan said the number of confirmed coronavirus cases in the country grew by 20 to reach 102 overall. Armenia declared a 30-day state of emergency on Monday and banned citizens of 16 nations from entering the country. So far, one person has recovered from the coronavirus in Armenia. Top stories Yerevan has dismissed Turkey’s demand to shut down the Armenian nuclear power plant as “inappropriate”. Armenia will loan 2.9 billion drams to Nagorno Karabakh (Artsakh), according to a draft government decision. The Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources of Azerbaijan has “strongly condemned” Armenia’s decision. Kerobyan has said that for the first time in the history of Armenia, the volume of foreign direct investments amounted to about $1 billion. Partner news | The Power of One Dram to benefit Road of Life charity The companies inform that the May beneficiary of The Power of One Dram is the “Road of Life” charitable organization. Ucom General Director gives lecture at French University in Armenia The General Director of Ucom Ralph Yirikian delivered a lecture at the French University of Armenia. Kazakhstan welcomes Yerevan, Baku’s agreement to meet in Almaty Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has welcomed the agreement of Baku and Yerevan to hold negotiations in Almaty. Armenia offers to temporarily host, preserve Gaza manuscripts The Armenian Foreign Minister has said Yerevan is ready to help preserve manuscripts from the conflict zone in Gaza. |