Wednesday, January 27 2021 20:06

ArmInfo.Minister of Territorial Administration and Infrastructure Suren Papikyan received today a delegation led by Deputy Director of the French Development Agency  for the South Caucasus Bertrand Walckenaer and Director of the AFD  office in the South Caucasus Jozan Raphael. The press service of the  ministry reported.

Minister Papikyan highly appreciated the high level of partnership  established between the RA government and the French Development  Agency.

Suren Papikyan touched upon a number of priority programs of the  ministry in order to use the possible support of partners in the  construction of roads, reservoirs, modernization of the irrigation  system, and development of community potential within the framework  of administrative-territorial reforms etc.

Bertrand Walckenaer also emphasized the importance of the  construction of the Vedi reservoir for the French side, calling it a  symbolic project within the partnership based on the Armenian-French  historical ties.

In his speech, Bertrand Walckenaer dwelled in detail on the  investment priorities of the AFD, confirmed the readiness of the  French side to continue cooperation in areas of mutual interest.

To recall, in January 2016, a loan agreement was signed between  Armenia and the French Development Agency in the amount of 75 million  euros for the construction of the Vedi reservoir. The document was  signed on the basis of the strategic program for the long-term  development of Armenia for 2014-2025. The loan was provided for a  period of 20 years with a six-year grace period.