Armenia economic activity shrank 17% during AprilMay 25, 2020 - 19:00 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Economic activity in Armenia shrank by 17.2% in April year-on-year, data from the National Statistical Service reveals. Economic activity in the country has contracted as a result of a lockdown imposed in mid-March in a bid to curb the Covid-19 outbreak. Though the state of emergency has been extended, most restrictions have been removed. In the reporting period, construction and trade declined by 51% and 33%, respectively, while the industrial sector contracted by 8.6%. Foreign trade turnover decreased by 15.3% year-on-year, exports and imports were down by 30% and 27.4%, respectively. So far, 7113 cases have been reported in the country, 3145 people have recovered, 87 have died from the disease, while 39 others carrying the virus have died of other causes. 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 | 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. Aliyev says no need for mediators in Armenia-Azerbaijan process Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev believes that Baku and Yerevan do not mediators in the process of normalizing relations. Aram I supports Karekin II’s “patriotic position” Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia Aram I has expressed support for the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin. |