ArmInfo. Armenian-French economic cooperation continues to deepen and expand, and the activities of the French Development Agency (AFD) in Armenia are an additional incentive for a mutually beneficial partnership, Armenian Deputy Prime Minister Tigran Avinyan said yesterday at the meeting with Head of South Caucasus Office of the French Development Agency Gaelle Assayag.
According to the press service of the RA government, the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of France to Armenia Jonathan Lacote also took part in the meeting. Gaelle Assayag thanked for the reception and stressed that the Agency is ready to support the development goals of the government.
The Deputy Prime Minister noted that the inclusive growth model, which provides for the allocation of additional resources for infrastructure, education and health, is at the core of the government program, which will allow the country to achieve significant success in the long term.
The interlocutors identified key areas of bilateral cooperation, such as capacity building, infrastructure, agriculture, energy efficiency, tourism, and urban development. The construction of the Vedi reservoir was discussed, the construction program of which is carried out with the credit funds of the AFD in the amount of 75 million euros and co-financed by the government.
The interlocutors discussed the irrigation system restoration program in Ararat and Armavir regions. This project is currently being discussed between the government and AFD. For these purposes, the Agency will provide Armenia with a grant of 10 million euros.
Ambassador Jonathan Lacote pointed to the increased interest of French companies in Armenia, noting that well-known companies "Dassault Systemes" and "Tales". During the meeting, the parties touched upon the deepening of Armenian-French scientific, technical and educational cooperation, in particular, the construction of a new French University building, the development of a French school, the establishment of a supercomputer center in Armenia in cooperation with a number of universities in the French city of Toulouse and the National Academy of Sciences of Armenia.