Tobacco production developed in Kashatagh, to ensure 1,000 and more jobs in the region: Artsakh ex-PM

Aysor.am correspondent met in Stepanakert with the former prime minister of Artsakh, chairman of Free Homeland party Arayik Harutyunyan.

- Mr Harutyunyan, recently you have come up with suggestion addressed to prime minister Pashinyan about involvement of state debts for the solution of some issues. This proposal was perceived as strange by some layers of the society. Will you explain the sense of the proposal?

- If we view the common history of world’s economic development, the countries having an opportunity to manage and control big financial resources succeeded in ensuring high growth tempos. It has been done mainly via saved resources. As far as we are not in very good condition regarding the savings, we must rely on involved means. Of course, there are countries which easily extracted oil for which big investments are necessary to be involved as loan resources or big investments. Where it was easy, the success was also reached easily...

As far as Armenia does not have opportunity to easily involve financial resources or domestic saving it means the only way is to involve resources through other pipes.

- What for?

- Numerous projects may be carried out. There is a need of involvement and distribution of billions of financial means in the road, general infrastructures, irrigation systems. Today we need at least few tens of millions of financial resources and sectoral directions for the upcoming 10-15 years.

- Nevertheless, the experience in Armenia showed that loans were not spent on the purpose. At least we see many gaps in many sectors.

- It is clear that in some period of time in some sectors mistakes have occurred but it does not mean that we have failed the opportunities of country’s economic development. We have no other way. This is the key goal of my proposal, there is no other way, we must make a choice – or-or, either we must involve serious resources and address it to economic development or fail it.

- Doesn’t the first option work?

- No, it does not, there are no other opportunities. Life shows so.

- Investments are not being made.

- Of course, not. There will be investments but very limited. It is spoken about few billion USD annually. Our resources, the resources of the investors are not enough. I again repeat, the world has passed through it, we are not making up anything new.

- Do you see the prerequisites of economic revolution stated by Armenia’s PM?

- Of course, I do. I also see that he is ready for brave steps. There is just a need of time and public support. Without public support and with criticism only it would be very difficult to undertake brave steps.

- Is there a criticism today? Everyone seems to love, respect the prime minister.

- I see the love and respect, but I do not know what response will follow to these brave steps. This is why I stress the necessity of public support.

- Before the interview you said currently a lot is being done. Will you say what exactly? You mentioned about program in Ishkhanadzor. What project is it?

- I am not doing much, but I continue active works toward the development of economy. There are active projects which we continue implementing with investors. I am speaking about water reservoirs, energy projects. Ishkhanadzor project is about tobacco production. It is about the usage of the economic potential of the southern wing of Kashatagh where active re-settling activities are being carried out. It has all the prerequisites for development of tobacco production. Tobacco production is a difficult and lasting process that is why we have reached arrangement with one of the owners of Grand Holding Michael Vardanyan, and currently Massis Tobacco has started working there.

- What does it do?

- The company builds dryers there to start works already in spring.

- What does it promise for Artsakh’s economy?

- Few hundreds of jobs, in future 1,000 and more. I am sure that it will fully solve the issue of jobs of the southern wing of Kashatagh region.