ArmInfo.On September 24, Armenian Prime Minister Karen Karapetyan received today the members of the Public Council, headed by Council Chairman Vazgen Manukyan.
The press office of the Armenian Government reports that welcoming the delegation, the Prime Minister said that such meetings are very important as they provide an opportunity to discuss issues of concern to the public, the prospects for the country's development, challenges and possible solutions. Vazgen Manukyan congratulated Karen Karapetyan on being appointed as Prime Minister and wished him productive work.
The Prime Minister and the members of the Public Council discussed a wide range of issues related to the current state of the economy, the existing problems and the development vectors. In particular, the meeting addressed the Government's economic policy, management efficiency, small and medium-size business, education, science, banking and other spheres. During the debates, the Prime Minister was presented a number of proposals on the issues raised.
The Head of Government noted that the new government sees society as a partner in solving problems, and in this regard, the Council may serve as a bridge between the Government and the public at large. According to the Premier, the State apparatus is seen as a flexible team; this is why the Government has initiated structural transformations. As the Prime Minister noted, the changes do not only imply renaming, but also a serious content and target functions.
Introducing the rationale behind the proposed changes, Karen Karapetyan noted that the Ministry of Investment and Entrepreneurship Support is supposed to help entrepreneurs discuss issues of concern to them and contribute to the elimination of obstacles in this field. The Prime Minister stressed the importance of education and science as a basis for the development of each sector and stressed that the new government will give a new impetus to the educational reform.
Summing up the discussion, the Premier invited the members of the Public Council to submit specific proposals and programs.
Earlier on September 22, Armenian Prime Minister Karen Karapetyan presented the logic of structural changes in the executive power. Karapetyan said that the reformation of the Ministry of Economy into a Ministry of Investments and Entrepreneurship Promotion should cause no concerns. "Real economic analysis is needed to support business and investments," he said, noting that the lack of the word "economy" in the name of the ministry does not at all mean that the ministry will have no "economic" component. He said that discussions are being held to include the State Water Committee, which is currently a part of the Ministry of Agriculture, in the new Ministry of Energy Infrastructures and Resources, because it is necessary to synchronize the activities of these fields. The IT sector will be included in the reformed Ministry of Transport, Communication, IT and Aviation. Now that sector is under the jurisdiction of the Economy Ministry, but the IT sector is close to communication and the new minister is quite competent in the field, so it will be correct if he manages this sector, too. "The aviation sector, which is currently a part of the Economy Ministry, belongs to the transport field and should be under the jurisdiction of the Transport Ministry," he said. As regards the tourism sector, which also belongs to the Economy Ministry, a Committee will be set up to ensure specific figures in the field of tourism. He said a Committee of Architecture and Cultural Values will be created on the basis of the ministry. "The Minister of Culture thinks that her ministry will best of all ensure the maintenance of cultural monuments," the Prime Minister said, noting that the sector will nevertheless be taken out of the Culture Ministry. "We do not think the changes in the structure of the Government are an aim in itself," he said, stressing that he is willing to discuss these issues again if needed in order to choose the most favorable structure model.
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